Tribal Health Programs Win Big with Casino Profits

The website of Washington's Nooksack River Casino, for example, links to many tribal facts about health services including "The Trail to the Tribe -- Strengthening Families Program." Likewise, the Three Rivers Casino in Oregon, displays pages of online information about programs and services that fortify the region.

No doubt Native American casinos have gambled that their charitable reach would flourish beyond the shiny glass doors that beguile so many. From wellness centers to low-cost health clinics and immediate access for all to relevant online health information on the Internet, tribes are at last realizing a centuries-old dream: health, self-reliance, and the vigor of their people beyond merely surviving. It's a bet the casinos have won.