Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians Shuts Preview Casino After Federal Gaming Eligibility Withdrawal

The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians closed its temporary Preview Casino in Vallejo, California, late on August 3 and into the early hours of August 4, 2026, after the U.S. Department of the Interior withdrew gaming eligibility for the trust parcel, and the facility that had employed over 100 workers halted operations immediately upon receipt of the regulatory notice.

The Shutdown Sequence

Staff received the notice and completed final procedures before locking the doors, while the tribe described the timing as abrupt and inconsistent with earlier federal determinations plus a 2025 court ruling that had addressed similar eligibility questions; observers note the closure occurred without advance public warning beyond the regulatory communication itself.

Those familiar with the parcel's status explain that the Department cited insufficient historical connection to the specific site as the basis for reversing prior eligibility, and the tribe countered that this position contradicted previous findings from the same agency along with judicial review from the year before.

Tribal Position and Next Steps

The Scotts Valley Band announced plans to file a new lawsuit challenging the withdrawal, arguing the action overlooked documented ties and ignored the earlier federal court outcome; representatives stated the decision created immediate operational uncertainty for the temporary facility that had served as a bridge to longer-term development.

Employment impacts reached more than 100 workers who lost positions at the moment of closure, and local economic activity tied to the casino stopped without a phased wind-down period, which tribal leaders highlighted when outlining their legal response strategy.

Regulatory Context and Parcel History

The trust parcel had received gaming eligibility under earlier reviews, yet the August 2026 determination reversed that status on grounds of historical connection, and the tribe maintained that supporting evidence presented previously remained unchanged since the 2025 ruling; this sequence illustrates how federal agencies can revisit eligibility even after court involvement.

Documents tied to the parcel show the tribe had operated the temporary casino as an interim step while pursuing permanent facilities, and the sudden eligibility loss forced an end to that phase without transition arrangements in place at the time of the notice.

Immediate Operational Effects

Patrons and employees learned of the closure through on-site communications once the notice arrived, and gaming activity ceased across all tables and machines by the early morning of August 4, 2026; the tribe emphasized that the facility had complied with all operational requirements up to the moment of the federal action.

Security and compliance teams completed required shutdown protocols, while financial settlements for wages and vendor payments followed standard procedures even as the legal challenge took shape; the abrupt nature meant no opportunity for gradual staff reductions or public transition announcements.

Legal Path Forward

Plans for new litigation focus on the claimed inconsistency between the August 2026 withdrawal, prior agency findings, and the 2025 federal court decision, and the tribe indicated it would seek to restore eligibility through judicial review; this approach mirrors strategies used in other tribal gaming disputes where regulatory reversals occur after initial approvals.

Legal teams began preparing filings immediately after the closure, and observers note the case will likely examine the sufficiency of historical connection evidence submitted during earlier eligibility reviews; the outcome could influence how the Department handles similar trust parcels in future determinations.

Conclusion

The closure of the Preview Casino marks a significant shift for the Scotts Valley Band's Vallejo operations, driven directly by the Department of the Interior's eligibility withdrawal on August 3-4, 2026, and the tribe's announced lawsuit aims to address perceived inconsistencies with prior findings and the 2025 ruling; employment for over 100 workers ended with the shutdown, and the temporary facility's status remains tied to the pending legal process.