Scotts Valley Tribe’s Ongoing Battle to Establish a Casino in Vallejo

Scotts Valley Tribe Pursues Casino Project in Vallejo

The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians is actively pushing forward with plans to build a casino in Vallejo, California. The tribe believes this development will serve as a vital economic boost for their community. However, this initiative faces opposition from several competing tribes who are striving to block the project.

Opposing Tribes Challenge the Validity of the Land Claim

In recent legal proceedings, the Scotts Valley Band submitted a final brief aiming to dismiss three lawsuits brought against them by rival tribal groups. These tribes accuse Scotts Valley of invalid claims and are contesting the tribe’s rights.

The challengers include the Lytton Rancheria of California, United Auburn Indian Community, and Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation—operators of the San Pablo Lytton Casino, Thunder Valley Casino Resort, and Cache Creek Casino, respectively. These tribes have filed federal cases with the U.S. Department of the Interior, attempting to reverse a prior department decision to place a 160-acre site in Vallejo into trust for tribal gaming, housing, and governmental use.

Later, the Department of the Interior expressed concerns the initial approval may have been flawed and acknowledged issues raised by competing tribes. Some claim the land does not qualify for gaming purposes and question the legitimacy of the tribe’s claim relating to Chief Shuk Augustine, who may never have resided in Vallejo.

Scotts Valley Tribe Stands Firm Against Opposition

The Scotts Valley Band previously challenged the reconsideration process but now focuses on dismissing the ongoing lawsuits. They emphasize the critical importance of the trust land to their community’s future, highlighting plans for housing, economic development, and government operations on the site.

The tribe’s chairperson, Shawn Davis, condemned the lawsuits as attempts by competing tribes to block the tribe’s sovereign rights and economic progress on their ancestral land. He accused the opposing tribes of acting out of greed, noting that two of the rival casinos are located more than an hour away from the proposed site, leaving little justification for their interference.

“We will not yield to greed. We will continue to fight tirelessly to protect our Tribe’s rights, heritage, and economic future—both for the Scotts Valley and Vallejo,” Davis stated.

The tribe envisions the land hosting a 24/7 casino, 24 family homes, an administrative office, and a garage, while reserving 45 acres as a nature preserve.