Preview Casino Shuts Down After Interior's Reversal, Leaving Vallejo Project in Limbo
August 5, 2026 - Vallejo, CA
The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians has closed its Preview Casino following a sudden decision by the U.S. Department of the Interior to withdraw gaming eligibility for the tribe's Vallejo trust parcel. The shutdown, which took effect late Sunday night, marks the most direct operational impact yet in the tribe's long-running battle with federal regulators.
The Preview Casino-designed as a temporary, small-scale gaming facility to demonstrate economic viability while the full resort awaited final approval-had been open only a short time before Interior's reversal forced its closure.
#1 Choice of U.S. Players!A Sudden Halt to Operations
Tribal officials confirmed that gaming operations ceased immediately after receiving Interior's notice. Staff were informed late Sunday, and the facility was secured shortly after midnight.
Chairman Shawn Davis described the shutdown as "a direct consequence of an unlawful and inconsistent federal action," emphasizing that the tribe had complied with all regulatory requirements during the preview phase.
"This closure is not voluntary," Davis said. "It is the result of a decision that contradicts the record, contradicts prior findings, and contradicts the federal court's own ruling from last year."
Economic and Community Impact
The Preview Casino had employed more than 100 workers, many of them Vallejo residents. Tribal leadership said they are working to support displaced employees and maintain continuity until litigation is resolved.
Local businesses that had begun forming partnerships with the tribe-food suppliers, maintenance contractors, and entertainment vendors-now face uncertainty as the project pauses.
City officials, who have been divided on the casino project, issued brief statements acknowledging the shutdown but offered no further comment.
Regulatory Basis for the Closure
Interior's August 2026 reversal withdrew gaming eligibility for the Vallejo parcel, citing "insufficient historical connection" and "inconsistencies in the record." The determination effectively nullified the temporary authorization under which the Preview Casino operated.
Legal analysts note that the shutdown was not the result of enforcement action or a violation, but rather a regulatory reclassification that removed the legal basis for gaming activity on the site.
Tribe Preparing New Legal Challenge
The Scotts Valley Band has stated it will file a new federal lawsuit in the coming days, arguing that Interior's reversal violates the Administrative Procedure Act and disregards the findings of the 2025 federal court ruling that favored the tribe.
The tribe's attorneys say the Preview Casino shutdown will be a central component of the new complaint, demonstrating immediate economic harm and regulatory instability.
What Happens Next
The Vallejo casino project now enters a holding pattern while the tribe prepares its legal challenge. Construction planning, financing arrangements, and community outreach efforts are expected to pause until the federal dispute is resolved.
Despite the setback, tribal leadership insists the project remains alive.
"This is a delay, not a defeat," Davis said. "The Preview Casino will reopen, and the Vallejo resort will be built. We're not walking away from this land or this future."
