Published on: April 16, 2026, 01:27h.
Updated on: April 16, 2026, 01:27h.
- Vallejo Approves Preview Casino Amid Ongoing Federal Review of Eligibility
- Local Tribes Contest Land Claim, Cite Flawed Federal Approval Process
- Temporary Casino Development Continues as $700 Million Resort Faces Uncertainty
The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians has received approval from the city of Vallejo, California, to establish a “preview casino” on tribal trust property located within the city.
This week, the involved parties reached a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the casino, even as uncertainties loom over the initiative, which was initially approved by the previous Biden administration in January 2025.
The current Trump administration is assessing whether the tribe qualifies for gaming rights on the property, which could threaten their larger vision of creating a $700 million casino resort featuring dining options, hotel accommodations, a spa, and a family entertainment venue.
Despite the ongoing review, the tribe remains determined to move forward with its temporary casino, which will operate in existing modular structures and will offer class II gaming machines.
According to the MOU, the city will furnish essential services such as temporary water supply, police, and fire services, while also managing permits for the tribe’s interim establishment. The tribe will bear all expenses—$602,000 in the first year and $502,000 annually thereafter—covering costs for a police position, service fees, water expenses, maintaining round-the-clock security, and supporting traffic, infrastructure, and community programs.
Disputes Over Ancestral Connections
While awaiting the federal government’s ruling on its right to conduct gaming on the Vallejo parcel under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, the tribe faces challenges. The Department of the Interior revised its initial approval in March 2025, suggesting that it may have been a mistake following legal challenges from various local tribes.
The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, the Kletsel Dehe Band of Wintun Indians, and the United Auburn Indian Community contend that the Scotts Valley Band has misrepresented its historical connection to the Vallejo land.
To obtain federal authorization, the Scotts Valley Band needed to demonstrate “significant” ancestral ties to the territory. However, opposing tribes argue that the land is traditionally Patwin and that the Scotts Valley Band’s historical claims do not withstand scrutiny.
They further allege that the initial approval was “arbitrary, capricious, and illegal,” influenced by political agendas, and that federal authorities failed to consult properly with affected tribes.
Motives Considered ‘Commercial’
The Scotts Valley Band has labeled the legal challenges as commercially driven and “anticompetitive,” given that two of the opposing tribes run casinos in the area.
Located about 100 miles away in Mendocino County, the Scotts Valley Band’s original reservation, the Sugar Bowl Rancheria in Lake County, was terminated in 1965 as part of the federal government’s widespread termination policies.
Although the tribe regained federal recognition in 1991, it did not have a formal reservation until the Vallejo property was accepted into trust.