The Vallejo casino saga is ongoing, as a joint statement has been sent by four California-based tribes expressing “serious concern” with the temporary preview casino.
The Vallejo Times Herald is reporting a statement has been sent out by the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, the Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation, the Lytton Rancheria of California, and the United Auburn Indian Community.
The report says the tribes said that: “any move to proceed at this time would come despite a clear warning from the federal court overseeing the matter that Scotts Valley would be ‘ill-served’ by relying on the temporary restoration of gaming eligibility while the Department completes its reconsideration, which the Court has directed be conducted expeditiously and thoroughly.”
The preview casino would be located at 200 Columbus Parkway in Vallejo and would represent a teaser for what’s to come from Scotts Valley. The plan is to have a 160-acre casino which would include 24 single-family residences, a tribal administration building, a parking garage, and a 45-acre biological preserve area. However, the plans for the fully fledged larger casino remain in limbo.
What are the latest happenings in the Vallejo casino saga?
It was back in Spring of 2025 when two Native American tribes filed a federal lawsuit to try and stop the big casino project planned for Vallejo, by the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians. At the time, the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation and the Kletsel Dehe Nation of the Cortina Rancheria, both Patwin tribes, say the Bureau of Indian Affairs did not follow the proper process when it approved handing over the land to Scotts Valley.
There were also concerns because the casino would be built right near several historic Patwin village sites.
After several back-and-forths, early January 2026 saw a Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation spokesperson tell ReadWrite that the decision by the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians to move ahead with a temporary casino was “deeply hurtful.”
ReadWrite has reached out to the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation for confirmation on the reported statement.
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