The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians is grappling with the fallout from a recent decision by the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) that has cast a shadow over their planned casino project in Vallejo, California. The DOI’s reversal of gaming approval has left the tribe’s ambitious venture in limbo, just days after the opening of a preview casino.
The decision, announced on July 31, 2026, by Assistant Secretary William H. Kirkland III, hinged on the tribe’s inability to demonstrate a significant historical connection to the proposed site. This finding undermines the tribe’s claim under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act’s restored-lands exception which allows certain federally recognized tribes to operate casinos on lands returned to them.
The Legal Landscape and Opposition
The DOI’s reversal marks another chapter in a long-running dispute that has seen fierce opposition from neighboring tribes. The initial approval of the land transfer on January 10, 2026, allowed 160.33 acres in Vallejo to be taken into trust for gaming and related uses. However, the department reopened the review in March 2026 following objections from rival tribal operators.
The legal battle has been intense, with neighboring tribes such as the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, Lytton Rancheria, United Auburn Indian Community, and Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation arguing that the site falls within their ancestral territory claims. These tribes have accused the Scotts Valley Band of reservation shopping alleging that the federal government improperly approved the gaming determination.
The Tribe’s Response and Future Steps
In response to the DOI’s decision, Chairman Shawn Davis of the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians expressed disappointment but vowed to challenge the ruling in federal court. Davis stated that the administrative record overwhelmingly supports the tribe’s gaming eligibility and that the tribe would move quickly to seek relief in federal court.
The tribe has temporarily suspended gaming operations at its preview casino while it prepares its legal challenge. The broader master plan, which includes an eight-story casino, hotel-style amenities, housing, and a biological preserve, remains tied up in litigation. The outcome of this legal battle will have significant implications for the tribe’s economic development strategy and its ability to generate jobs, housing, and long-term revenue for tribal members.
The Broader Implications
The DOI’s decision has pleased several tribes in the area who challenged the Scotts Valley casino in the courts. The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation and the Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation, both Patwin tribes, argued that the Vallejo site lies within their ancestral homeland rather than that of the Pomo people. They have accused the Scotts Valley Band of reservation shopping and have been vocal in their opposition to the project.
The United Auburn Indian Community, which operates the Thunder Valley Casino Resort near Sacramento, filed a separate lawsuit, arguing that the DOI’s initial approval was flawed and that the agency had failed to consult affected local tribes. The tribe’s legal team has claimed that the DOI’s decision to reconsider its gaming eligibility was not a lawful administrative reconsideration but an unlawful and politically motivated campaign engineered by Yocha Dehe Wintun lobbyists.
As the legal battle unfolds, the future of the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians’ Vallejo casino project remains uncertain. The outcome of the federal court challenge will not only determine the fate of this specific project but also set a precedent for future tribal gaming ventures in California.
