Tribal Health Programs Win Big with Casino Profits

SEATTLE – Casinos mean much more than fun and games to the tribes now reaping profits that often lift their members out of poverty and into wellbeing. That is, behind the scenes, when the dollars are laid flat and the days’ receipts are counted, there is much good work at play in the communities for whom these casinos take great responsibility.

"The true story of Indian gaming cannot be seen only in the numbers; Indian gaming is really about opportunity - opportunity to have a job, opportunity to go to a top-notch school, and opportunity to get excellent health care," says National Indian Gaming Association Chairman Ernest L. Stevens, Jr. In fact, many tribes in the Pacific Northwest are winning big by directing their new money to health projects, ranging from glimmering, state-of-the-art facilities to culturally sensitive education campaigns targeting tobacco, mental health, and alcohol.

According to interviews with tribal clinic administrators and previously published records detailing the state of Native health, tribal leaders increasingly recognize and act upon the opportunity to position casinos as a positive resource toward ensuring a healthier Native society. Not only does casino money provide the dollars to fund important community-based programs, but such philanthropy also serves to improve communication about health and health status, such as links from casino web pages to health facts.