Casino operator MGM Resorts took comfort in its minimal exposure to the struggling Macau market as its US properties rode to the rescue.

MGM’s overall revenue in the three months ending March 31 fell 5% to $2.2b while profit tumbled 61% to $66.8m. However, MGM pointed out that a $160m favorable litigation settlement at its partially owned City Center Las Vegas property in the same period last year had unfavorably skewed the year-on-year comparisons.

Revenue at MGM’s wholly owned domestic properties inched up 2.5% to $1.62b, with all Vegas properties except the Monte Carlo showing year-on-year gains, despite a 6% fall in table game volume. Revenue per available room was up 8% in Vegas and the US division’s adjusted property earnings rose 24% to $485m, with margins of 30%, the highest since 2007.

Things were less rosy in Macau, where the MGM China joint venture reported revenue down 26% to $469m and operating income down more than one-third to $47m. Main floor table game revenue was down 8%, while VIP revenue was down 41% as turnover dropped by one-third and hold fell 0.3 points to 3%.