Scotts Valley Tribe advances temporary Vallejo casino amid legal disputes
The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians is progressing with plans for a temporary casino in Vallejo, California, despite ongoing legal challenges.Summary
The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians intends to open a temporary “preview casino” in Vallejo, California, potentially by January 2026, utilizing modular structures and Class II gaming machines. The project has faced opposition from the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation and the Kletsel Dehe Nation, who filed a lawsuit claiming the land is within Patwin ancestral territory and alleging insufficient consultation by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Tribal Chairman Shawn Davis asserts the project is about exercising sovereignty and providing economic opportunities, while criticizing opposition from rival casino operators like Cache Creek. The US Department of the Interior is currently reconsidering its earlier approval of the project, acknowledging a potential “legal error” in its initial decision, but a federal judge has allowed the tribe to proceed during the review. Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation Chairman Anthony Roberts maintains that the Scotts Valley tribe has no historical connection to the land.
(Source：Readwrite)