Most of the tribes that have successful casino operations are mod- els for reinvesting casino profits in order to improve the lives of those who need the most help. Health facilities, water treatment plants, sewage disposal facilities, and Native American schools are usually among the first projects paid for with revenue from these operations. Bank loans for such projects are virtually nonexistent. Start-up monies are usually provided by one or more venture capitalistswho put a man- agement team in place before loaning the money and use a percent- age of the gross revenue as collateral for the loan. Not all Native Amer- ican casinos are land-based. In states that allowcommercial gaming on riverboats only, the tribes have done very well. Some tribes have hired and partnered with successfulnon-Native American casino companies, usually with lucrative results. These tribes recognize that they do not possess the expertise to operate a multimillion-dollar venture and are willing to let trusted experts do the job. In most instances, this is a dif- ficult decision; most Native Americans are fiercely protective of their newly gained right to self-determination