Preview Casino in Vallejo Closes as Pomo Tribe Faces New Federal Hurdle on Gaming Rights

The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians shut down its temporary Preview Casino in Vallejo, California, right after the U.S. Department of the Interior withdrew gaming eligibility from the tribe's trust parcel. Officials cited insufficient historical connection to the site as the reason for the reversal. The small-scale operation had run only briefly as a test of viability for a larger resort project, yet it employed more than 100 people who now face sudden job loss.

Background on the Trust Parcel and Project Plans

The tribe had placed the Vallejo land into federal trust specifically to support gaming development, and earlier reviews by the Department of the Interior had cleared the parcel for such use. Observers note that the Preview Casino served as an initial step, allowing the Scotts Valley Band to gather operational data and demonstrate market demand before committing resources to a full-scale facility. Construction and staffing for the temporary site moved forward once those prior approvals stood in place, while the 2025 federal court ruling had appeared to reinforce the tribe's position on land eligibility.

The Federal Decision and Immediate Shutdown

Withdrawal of eligibility arrived without advance warning to the tribe, prompting an immediate closure order for the Preview Casino. Department records indicate the decision rested on a reassessment of historical ties between the Scotts Valley Band and the Vallejo location, a finding that contradicted earlier determinations. The tribe maintains that the action conflicts with both those prior findings and the 2025 court order, which had addressed similar eligibility questions. Operations ceased within days of the announcement, leaving the facility dark and the surrounding area without the economic activity the casino had generated during its short run.

Employment Impact and Community Effects

More than 100 workers lost positions when the doors locked, many of whom had relocated or adjusted schedules to support the brief operation. Local suppliers who had contracted for food, security, and maintenance services also saw contracts end abruptly. Those who've studied tribal gaming projects in California often point out that even short-lived facilities create ripple effects through nearby businesses, and the Vallejo case follows that pattern. The tribe has not released detailed plans for worker support, though officials stated they intend to explore all available options once the legal path forward clarifies.

Tribe's Response and Planned Legal Action

Scotts Valley Band representatives described the eligibility withdrawal as inconsistent with established administrative records and the 2025 federal court ruling. They announced plans to challenge the decision through a new lawsuit filed under the Administrative Procedure Act, which allows review of federal agency actions for procedural fairness and adherence to prior determinations. Legal teams are preparing filings that will argue the Department exceeded its authority by reversing course without sufficient new evidence. Court documents from similar cases show that tribes have succeeded in overturning eligibility decisions when they demonstrate reliance on earlier approvals, and the Scotts Valley Band appears positioned to make that argument.

Regulatory Context and Historical Connection Standard

Federal guidelines require tribes to show historical connection to land placed into trust for gaming purposes under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. The Department applied that standard to the Vallejo parcel during its latest review and reached a different conclusion than previous examiners. Similar reviews have occurred at other California sites, where tribes must compile extensive documentation of ancestral presence, treaties, and continuous community ties. The Scotts Valley Band's case now joins a list of disputes in which the historical-connection test becomes the central point of contention between tribal governments and federal agencies.

Next Steps for the Larger Resort Project

Although the Preview Casino has closed, the tribe has not abandoned plans for a larger resort on the same parcel. Attorneys expect the upcoming lawsuit to seek both reversal of the eligibility withdrawal and clarification on how the Department will handle future applications involving the same land. Until that litigation resolves, any expansion remains on hold. Industry analysts who track tribal gaming note that such pauses can last several years when court challenges move through the federal system, yet many projects eventually proceed once procedural issues receive judicial review.

Conclusion

The closure of the Preview Casino marks a sudden pause in the Scotts Valley Band's Vallejo development, driven directly by the Department of the Interior's withdrawal of gaming eligibility. More than 100 employees felt teh immediate effects, while the tribe prepares a legal response under the Administrative Procedure Act that will test the consistency of federal decision-making against prior findings and the 2025 court ruling. Observers will watch the forthcoming lawsuit for signs of how the historical-connection standard will apply to other trust parcels in California and beyond.