LAS VEGAS (AP) -- MGM Resorts International reports an unexpected profit in the first quarter, as the casino operator benefited from rooms and gambling tables on the Las Vegas Strip, and the strength of Macau.

Shares rose 5 percent in premarket trading.

MGM earned $6.5 million, or 1 cent per share, in the first three months of the year. That's compared to a loss of $217.3 million, or 44 cents per share. Analysts had expected a loss of 10 cents per share.

Revenue rose 3 percent to $2.4 billion, exceeding the average estimate of $2.34 billion.

MGM Resorts operates 15 casinos in Nevada, Mississippi and Michigan, including the Bellagio on the Las Vegas Strip. It also is the majority owner of MGM China Holdings Ltd., which owns the MGM Macau casino-resort.

The iconic Welcome to Las Vegas sign became blue Wednesday for National Foster Care Month.

May is dedicated is raising awareness of the 400,000 children and teenagers in foster care around the country.

In Clark County, more than 3,000 children are in foster care system on any given day. Many of those children cannot return home because their families are in crisis.

"We really need to get more of our community together and try to help the foster kids that are out there. My foster parents have been the most amazing blessing to me, and I just love to see all this advertisement for it," foster child Anny Anderson said. 

The county's Department of Family Services would like to people to be aware of the ways they can help these kids in need.