Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians Closes Vallejo Preview Casino Following Federal Reversal on Gaming Eligibility

The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians has closed its temporary Preview Casino in Vallejo, California, immediately after the U.S. Department of the Interior withdrew gaming eligibility for the tribe's Vallejo trust parcel, and the decision rested on findings of insufficient historical connection to the land. The small-scale Class II facility, which had operated briefly while employing over 100 workers, shut down late Sunday night following the federal reversal, and the tribe described the action as unlawful while announcing plans to file a new federal lawsuit challenging it under the Administrative Procedure Act.

Details of the Closure and Federal Determination

Operations at the Preview Casino ended abruptly once the Department of the Interior issued its final determination rejecting Class III gaming eligibility for the Scotts Valley Band's Vallejo trust land, and the facility had served as an initial step toward broader development before the reversal took effect. The tribe's statement emphasized that the larger $700 million resort project remains delayed yet not abandoned, and workers who had been part of the short-lived operation received notice of the immediate shutdown as federal authorities enforced the eligibility withdrawal.

Observers note that the closure occurred without advance public warning beyond the tribe's internal communications, and the more than 100 employees who staffed the brief operation faced sudden job loss once the federal decision landed late in the week leading into Sunday night. The tribe's public remarks framed the reversal as inconsistent with established processes, and plans for the lawsuit center on procedural grounds rather than immediate re-opening efforts.

Tribe's Response and Legal Next Steps

The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians issued a statement calling the Department of the Interior's action unlawful, and leadership indicated that a new federal lawsuit would challenge the eligibility withdrawal under the Administrative Procedure Act while seeking to preserve future options for the $700 million resort project. According to the tribe, the temporary Preview Casino had operated in compliance with existing approvals until the sudden reversal, and the larger development timeline has simply shifted rather than collapsed despite the current setback.

Those familiar with the case point out that the federal determination focused specifically on historical connection requirements for the Vallejo trust parcel, and the tribe maintains that additional documentation or legal arguments could alter the outcome through judicial review. The lawsuit preparation follows the immediate closure, and no timeline has been released for when the filing will occur or how the Administrative Procedure Act claims will be structured.

Impact on Employment and Project Timeline

Over 100 workers lost positions when the Preview Casino closed late Sunday night, and the tribe has not announced any immediate support programs or re-employment pathways tied to the delayed resort project. The $700 million development remains on hold pending resolution of the eligibility dispute, yet tribal statements continue to describe the overall vision as intact and subject only to timing adjustments rather than cancellation.

Data from the brief operational period shows the Class II facility functioned as a scaled-down preview of future offerings, and the shutdown directly followed enforcement of the Department of the Interior's gaming eligibility reversal. The tribe's communications have stressed that the closure does not signal the end of gaming-related plans in Vallejo, and observers have noted continued references to the full resort as a long-term objective.

Conclusion

The sequence of events surrounding the Preview Casino closure highlights the direct connection between the federal eligibility withdrawal and the tribe's decision to cease operations, and the planned lawsuit under the Administrative Procedure Act represents the next formal step in contesting the Department of the Interior's determination. The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians has framed both the temporary facility shutdown and the larger project delay as reversible outcomes dependent on legal and administrative processes, while the employment impact on over 100 workers stands as an immediate consequence of the late Sunday night closure. Further developments will hinge on the tribe's filing and any subsequent federal court proceedings related to the Vallejo trust parcel.