Unnamed Tribal Faction Allegedly Coerced Department of Interior to Prevent Scotts Valley Venture, According to Legal Filing
In a legal dispute that centres on a proposed casino project in Vallejo, California, the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians are challenging the Department of the Interior (DOI) over allegations of political interference and competing tribal interests.
The Scotts Valley Band, a federally recognised tribe, acquired trust land in Vallejo and sought to develop a casino there. In January 2025, the DOI initially approved the tribe's right to pursue gaming on this land. However, in a surprising turn of events, the DOI reversed this decision in March 2025, rescinding the approval that had allowed the casino project to move forward.
The Scotts Valley Band alleges that this reversal was driven not by new legal or factual grounds but by political lobbying from rival tribal interests, including the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation and others with competitive casino projects. Internal memos and federal documents reveal that lobbyists for opposing casino interests reportedly guided DOI officials in their decision to revoke the original approval.
In response, the Scotts Valley Band filed an amended federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, challenging the DOI's March 2025 action. Their complaint argues that this reversal constitutes an arbitrary and capricious decision influenced by political pressures rather than law or facts, thereby violating the tribe's sovereignty and federally protected rights.
Shawn Davis, chairman of the Scotts Valley Band, emphasised confidence in their legal position and commitment to proceeding with the casino project to benefit both their tribe and the Vallejo community. The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, which operates Cache Creek Casino Resort in Brooks, Calif., has opposed the Scotts Valley Band's casino project.
The federal court confirmed in June that the tribe's land remains in trust while the reconsideration process plays out. The lawsuit accuses the DOI of yielding to rival casino lobbyists in its decision to pause the approval of the casino project. The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians filed the lawsuit against the Department of the Interior on July 15, 2025, in a federal court in Washington DC.
The Scotts Valley Band has a near-decade-long ambition to build a $700 million casino in the region. The lawsuit claims that the Department of the Interior put a prior gaming eligibility decision on hold pending legal analysis of whether the land qualified for gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). The court has yet to rule on the merits of the DOI's action.
[1] Scott, J. (2025). Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians Sue DOI Over Casino Project Reversal. Indian Country Today. Retrieved from https://indiancountrytoday.com/news/scotts-valley-band-of-pomo-indians-sue-doi-over-casino-project-reversal-JLz73Rw2YvRj6BK57gJaXQ
[2] Smith, A. (2025). Vallejo Casino Project: Scotts Valley Band Sues DOI Over Reversal. The Mercury News. Retrieved from https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/07/16/vallejo-casino-project-scotts-valley-band-sues-doi-over-reversal/
- The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians, who have a long-standing goal to establish a $700 million casino, are currently involved in a legal dispute with the Department of the Interior (DOI) over a casino project in Vallejo, California.
- The band alleges political interference and competing tribal interests as the reasons for the DOI's reversal of their initial approval to pursue casino-gambling on their trust land.
- In response to the DOI's decision to rescind the approval, the Scotts Valley Band filed a federal lawsuit arguing that the action was unlawful and arbitrarily influenced by opposing casino-project lobbyists.
- The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, who operate the Cache Creek Casino Resort, have reportedly opposed the Scotts Valley Band's casino project.
- The Scotts Valley Band's lawsuit accuses the DOI of yielding to these rival lobbyists in halting the approval of their casino-and-gambling project.
- Poker and casino-culture enthusiasts worldwide are closely monitoring the proceedings, as the case could set a precedent for other casino projects and responsible-gambling measures.
- The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) and the development of casino-games are key factors in the ongoing dispute, as the DOI is alleged to have delayed the approval of the Scotts Valley Band's project based on IGRA qualifications.
- Big-wins and gambling trends are on hold in the Vallejo area, as the court determines whether the Scotts Valley Band's casino project can move forward or if political influences will impede the project's progress.
