3.6 is the percentage drop in revenue the US gambling industry experienced for the first 11 months of 2008, and to help keep customers spending, casino cut costs in various ways, from reduced room rates to suspended construction.

MGM Mirage Inc. is one of the big four in the US who has managed to save money by either laying off staff of changing plans. For example they save $200 million by cancelling 200 condominiums at the Harmon hotel & Spa, topping the hotel at 25 stories instead of the planned 47.

MGM did also say with their CityCenter development being delayed, they expected to hire or re-hire 3,200 of the staff layoffs since 2007 as they would need 12,000.

The Las Vegas Sands, the first US company to open in Macau when the market opened there, is also penny pinching. It has suspended construction on two of its sites in Macau, while it tries to raise funds. According to sand it needs $1.9 billion.

All the cuts seem to be working however as one Las Vegas reported room occupation at 90 percent daily.

The average Las Vegas room rent used to be around $108 a night, now though they can be found online as part of package deals for a low a $25 a night.