6 Aug 2026
Preview Casino Closure Marks New Chapter for Scotts Valley Band's Vallejo Project
The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians shuttered its temporary Preview Casino in Vallejo, California, late Sunday night after the U.S. Department of the Interior withdrew gaming eligibility for the tribe's Vallejo trust parcel on grounds of insufficient historical connection, and the closure ended operations at the small-scale Class II facility that had run for only a brief period while employing more than 100 workers.
Observers note the decision reversed prior determinations, which left the tribe with no choice but to halt all gaming activities immediately, yet the larger $700 million resort project remains delayed rather than abandoned according to statements from tribal leadership.
Details of the Sudden Shutdown
Operations at the Preview Casino wrapped up without advance public notice in many cases, and staff members learned of the final closure through internal communications that cited the federal action as the direct cause; the facility had offered Class II games under existing approvals until the eligibility withdrawal took effect, which forced compliance with the new ruling.
Federal Determination and Its Timeline
The U.S. Department of the Interior issued its final determination rejecting Class III gaming eligibility for the Scotts Valley Band's Vallejo trust land in August 2026, and that ruling cited a lack of sufficient historical ties to the parcel as the primary reason for the reversal; the tribe had operated the Preview Casino under Class II rules during the interim period while awaiting further approvals, but the broader eligibility loss ended that window abruptly.
Those familiar with the process explain that such determinations fall under standard review procedures for trust lands, and the August 2026 action directly impacted the temporary site even though the facility itself had maintained compliance up to that point.
Tribe's Position and Planned Legal Steps
The Scotts Valley Band described the withdrawal as unlawful in public statements released after the closure, and leadership indicated plans to file a new federal lawsuit challenging the decision under the Administrative Procedure Act; that approach would seek judicial review of the Department of the Interior's findings while preserving options for the main resort development.
Legal experts following similar cases point out that Administrative Procedure Act challenges often focus on whether agencies followed proper notice and comment requirements or relied on complete administrative records, and the tribe's filing would test those elements against the historical connection analysis used in the August 2026 determination.
Impact on Workers and Local Operations
More than 100 employees lost their positions when the Preview Casino closed, and the sudden end to shifts created immediate effects on households that had counted on the short-term gaming jobs; local suppliers and vendors also adjusted schedules once gaming revenue streams stopped flowing from the Vallejo site.
Community observers note the temporary facility had served as an initial step toward larger economic development goals, yet the federal reversal compressed that timeline into a matter of days rather than months.
Status of the $700 Million Resort Project
Tribal representatives confirmed the $700 million resort project faces delays but continues as a long-term priority, and planning efforts remain active even as the Preview Casino chapter ends; the main development would require separate eligibility pathways or additional trust land reviews before construction could resume at full scale.
Data from similar tribal projects shows that multi-year delays often follow eligibility disputes, yet many tribes eventually secure alternative sites or revised approvals through litigation and negotiation.
Conclusion
The closure of the Scotts Valley Band's Preview Casino illustrates how a single federal eligibility ruling can halt ongoing operations and redirect resources toward legal and planning efforts, and the tribe's announced lawsuit under the Administrative Procedure Act will determine whether the August 2026 determination stands or opens new options for the Vallejo trust parcel.