The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians lost a key gaming approval on July 31, 2026 when the Department of the Interior determined that the tribe had not shown a sufficient historical connection to a Vallejo, California parcel intended for a casino project, and the tribe suspended preview operations at the site. Last updated: August 5, 2026.
Why the Interior decision matters for the Vallejo project and regional tribes
The reversal affects a project that had earlier been approved on January 10 as eligible under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act’s restored-lands exception, a determination that permitted 160.33 acres in Vallejo to be taken into trust for gaming and related uses. The decision has immediate economic and legal implications for a proposed approximately $700 million development that included an eight-story casino, housing, and a 45-acre biological preserve, and it halted preview casino activity that had opened days earlier.
Details of the Interior’s finding and administrative history
Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs William H. Kirkland III issued the July 31, 2026 determination, concluding that the Scotts Valley Band had not met the statutory requirement of a significant historical connection to the Vallejo parcel. The decision stated, “I have determined the Band has not demonstrated the requisite significant historical connection. Consequently, the Vallejo parcel does not qualify as restored lands within the meaning of applicable law.” That finding directly undercut the tribe’s claim to proceed under the IGRA restored-lands exception and triggered the suspension of operations at the short-lived preview casino.
Tribal responses and planned legal action
Chairman Shawn Davis of the Scotts Valley Band expressed disappointment and announced immediate legal steps, stating, “The administrative record overwhelmingly supports the Tribe’s gaming eligibility.” The tribe has said it will file suit in federal court to challenge the department’s reversal and is preparing an administrative and judicial record to contest the determination. While pursuing litigation, the tribe has paused gaming at the preview facility and has left broader master-plan activities tied up pending the outcome.
Opposition from neighboring tribes and the regional legal landscape
Opposition from surrounding tribes played a central role in prompting the department’s reconsideration. The Yocha Dehe Wintun NationLytton RancheriaUnited Auburn Indian Community and Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation argued that the Vallejo site lies within Patwin ancestral territory rather than within the historical lands of the Pomo people, and they challenged the initial approvals. The United Auburn Indian Community which operates Thunder Valley Casino Resort near Sacramento brought a lawsuit that argued procedural defects in the earlier approval and asserted the department had not adequately consulted affected tribes.
Lytton Rancheria Chairperson Andy Mejia reacted to the reversal by calling it an encouraging development and emphasizing legal process. Mejia said, “The decision is an encouraging development and reflects the importance of ensuring that federal decisions affecting the Tribal Nations are made in a manner consistent with the law.” Opposing tribes have also accused the Scotts Valley Band of reservation shopping and contended that evidence submitted raised serious questions about the restored-lands eligibility.
Project specifics and timeline elements under dispute
The Vallejo proposal encompassed an eight-story casino open 24 hours, restaurants, bars, a ballroom, tribal housing, an administration building, parking, and a 45-acre biological preserve, along with 24 single-family homes planned for tribal members. Earlier department action in January had allowed 160.33 acres to be taken into trust for gaming, housing, and governmental purposes. The department reopened its review in March after legal challenges and additional evidence from neighboring tribes, and a federal judge in October previously ruled that the department had authority to revisit its decision and ordered a final determination by the end of July.
The development’s estimated cost of about $700 million and the planned scope meant the project’s fate carries economic consequences for tribal employment, housing, and long-term revenue streams. The tribe’s master plan and the physical site in Vallejo remain the subject of litigation and administrative review while federal procedures and court challenges proceed.
As of the July 31, 2026 decision and this update, the Scotts Valley Band has suspended preview casino operations and announced plans to contest the department’s reversal in federal court. The outcome of forthcoming litigation will determine whether the Vallejo parcel retains its earlier restored-lands eligibility or whether the project will be altered, delayed, or permanently blocked.
