Judge: Scotts Valley’s $10m casino loss self-inflicted
Judge Trevor McFadden rejected the tribe’s bid for a preliminary injunction.
The hit
A US federal judge has refused to revive gaming approval for the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians’ Vallejo casino site, calling the tribe’s losses largely self-inflicted, according to Casino.org. Judge Trevor McFadden said the tribe knowingly invested despite the project being in serious legal jeopardy.
Why it matters
The ruling keeps the temporary casino closed on a site earmarked for a $700m resort & deals a blow to the tribe’s decade-long fight for gaming rights. McFadden found Scotts Valley had not shown it was likely to succeed on any of the 4 claims in its underlying lawsuit.
The record
| Tribe’s casino project investment | More than $10m (claimed by Scotts Valley) |
|---|---|
| Preview Casino opening | 24 July 2025 |
| Monthly cost to maintain shuttered site | $235,247 claimed by Scotts Valley, called ‘questionable’ by Judge McFadden |
| Interior’s land-eligibility reversals | 2019 rejection, January 2025 approval, July 2025 reversal (one week after the Preview Casino opened) |
What happens next
Scotts Valley’s lawsuit against the Interior Department continues. Judge McFadden has yet to rule on the underlying case, which will decide whether the Vallejo site can ever host gaming.
Sources: Judge Calls Scotts Valley’s $10M Casino Losses ‘Self-Inflicted’
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