Kenny Epstein, at 84, still walks the floor of his downtown Las Vegas casino, The El Cortez Hotel, most afternoons.

Which goes some way to explaining why he isn’t here inside Allegiant Stadium on this particular Saturday night.

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But just like with more than a couple of people around this town, including UFC president Dana White, and a local NFL fan named Alvie, rugby league is growing on him.

Which is why this popular Las Vegas casino owner allowed for NRL games to be played on some of his bar television screens this week.

Same as Thursday night, after a heaving Fremont Street Experience, he also hosted a party for a crew of old US Tomahawk players who, only a couple of years back, first explained the game to him.

And Kenny, well, he likes what he sees.

But before we read you the text that tells us why, let’s first hear from Alvie.

Because, man, there is no way this jacked Las Vegas local was missing tonight.

And will tell us as much too while, together, we’re queuing for beers way up on the fourth level of this heaving $2 billion Death Star.

Spectators during the round one NRL match between Canterbury Bulldogs and St George Illawarra Dragons at Allegiant Stadium on February 28, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

Which just happens to be two levels above the plush suite we also find ourselves in an hour later, drinking free bottles of beer with no less than Sergeant Slaughter.

But for now, it’s the US$15 cans of Coors.

Not that any of this bothers Alvie, a local right down to his gold earrings, black Raiders cap and matching muscle tee. The latter of which is splashed with the phrase of late, great NFL owner Al Davis: “Just win baby”.

A quarterback in high school, Alvie earned himself free tickets to this same NRL Las Vegas event last year.

“And straight away, I was hooked to the physicality,” he says, one eye staying fixed onto a large TV screen which, fixed to a wall above us, shows Newcastle attacking the North Queensland tryline.

“Like now, when you’ve got a team down there at the goal line.

“It’s one-on-one.

“Toughest guy wins. Love that.”

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Then after making his order, Alvie goes again.

“Look at these guys, tough as nails, getting knocked on their arses,” he continues, still looking up at that screen. “You know they don’t feel good, but they get back up anyway.”

Still he says, as a Raiders fan this night means more, too.

“Because over the past eight years,” he says, “we’ve only really had two strong seasons.

“And that’s why I also find this event so amazing.

“You Aussies have a good time, drink a lot – it brings a buzz and energy to this place that isn’t always here for us.

“And when you put all that with the physicality of these guys … that’s why I’m back”.

Fans show their support ahead of the round one NRL match between Newcastle Knights and North Queensland Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium on February 28, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP

Later, while having a third crack at finding a lift that reaches the press box, we bump into Las Vegas teens Isaiah and Gerald, who were playing a game of flag football earlier this week when somebody handed them free tickets to this game.

Just like Alvie got last year.

Which, of course, will have the narks back home scoffing.

But honestly, you should’ve seen these kids’ faces while talking about the NRL.

“I really think it’s harder than American football,” gushes Isaiah, who hasn’t long finished up his own high school career. “These guys are whoopin’ each other’s arses … and nobody is wearing shields.”

Down on level three, meanwhile, it’s time for a chat with David Washington.

A fella we reckon might know something about how Americans feel about footy, thanks to the small giveaway that is him being decked out in a USA Rugby League tracksuit.

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Only a night earlier, Washington played centre for the American Hawks side that beat Scotland 28-20.

“Although,” he says, “we had to fight all the way through”.

Once a high school footballer gifted enough to play both sides of the ball, Washington switched to rugby union in college and then, once that was done, eventually found Florida’s rugby league haven – the Jacksonville Axeman.

“And in Jacksonville, the game really is growing,” Washington says. “We’ve got a youth team, high school teams for boys and girls, plus [senior] sides for both men and women.”

Better, this international now boasting 10 caps, and being coached by NRL Old Boy Adam Woolnough, insists the code can keep growing.

“Because it’s easier to understand than rugby,” he says.

“Obviously American football is a staple here. But if you can understand our game, you can understand rugby league.”

Spectators show their support during the round one NRL match between Canterbury Bulldogs and St George Illawarra Dragons at Allegiant Stadium on February 28, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP

Here, truly, is a night where Americans are everywhere.

Some of whom have earned free tickets. While another group tells us how they’re parents of local kids handpicked to be part of the entertainment.

Mixing in with hundreds more young dancers who have flown in, they say, from Australia and the UK.

And the atmosphere?

Outstanding.

And on a night too, when a new NRL Las Vegas crowd record will be set: 45,719.

Call it a chaos, too, that has engulfed this town all week.

With NRL fans bringing more energy than even those two fellas who tried to start a fight inside a CVS Pharmacy Saturday morning, while we were chasing up a Gatorade.

“I just got outta prison and need a challenge,” one man shouted, holding a plastic schooner of beer in one hand, around 10 o’clock, and a carton of Pringles in the other.

Both of which then got placed on the floor.

“I can see in your eyes … you ain’t done no time,” he shouted. “Lets go … lets f***ing go”.

Thankfully, someone intervened.

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But if you want to understand the energy that engulfed Saturday night, here it was.

Let’s f***ing go.

Call it an energy, too, that drifts all the way back downtown to the El Cortez Hotel.

A joint sitting on the same Fremont Street that now plays host to what is Australia’s greatest street party.

After almost 60 years in town, Kenny knows more than a little about how to succeed here.

A truth proved by the Las Vegas timeline that has seen him go from working Caesars Palace baccarat tables in the 1960s, to now walking the floors of a casino which, sometime well before him, was owned by American mobster Bugsy Siegel.

And, no, Kenny wasn’t at the game.

But as it so often goes in this town, we know someone, who knows someone, and they asked him for a quote about rugby league.

“I’ve seen a lot in this town,” says the text that pops into our phone shortly before Canterbury crosses for their first try against St George Illawarra.

“Seen a lot of winners. Seen a lot of losers. And rugby league looks like a winner to me.”

Knight supporters celebrate victory following the round one NRL match between Newcastle Knights and North Queensland Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium on February 28, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

Better, Kenny has told as much to his son Lawrence Epstein, chief operating officer at the UFC, whose sprawling Performance Institute has played host to all six touring NRL and English Super League sides this week.

Same as Kenny’s son-in-law, Jonathan Fine, has gifted up several of his own popular Las Vegas bars, like the Rockhouse, and The George Sportsmen’s Lounge, to support events for everyone from travelling Hull KR fans to a group representing the Arthur Beetson Foundation.

Which brings us now to that suite on level two where you’ll find America’s most capped international, Jeff Preston, sharing a few beers with an eclectic group that includes another fella who himself played 16 Tests for Australia, Tim Brasher.

While now long retired, Preston – aka Captain America, or Sergeant Slaughter – still carries the same energy for the game that saw him earn 46 caps for the USA.

A run which included almost upsetting the Kangaroos in ‘04, a World Nines handshake with Alfie Langer, even getting his collarbone busted by Andy Farrell.

After serving in the US Marines, ‘Presto’ represented his nation, initially dubbed the Tomahawks, for years and remembers well arriving for what would be his last ever game, a World Cup qualifier against Japan.

“Because I brought the goal post pads in the back of my truck,” he laughs.

Which is a story worth remembering here.

Understanding so many people this week, they’re all trying to explain how rugby league can be started Stateside.

But the truth?

It’s been here for years.

Most notably inside this plush Allegiant Stadium suite where a host of old Tomahawks from New York, Philadelphia and various other cities have reunited as part of their own footballing ‘family’.

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And bringing that on for a new generation, the Sergeant stresses, can be done.

“And easier than people think,” Preston insists, reminding how the US has already been to a World Cup, while he himself played three World Sevens tournaments, plus that World Nines.

The last of which involved a game against Australia.

“And before the game, shaking hands with Alfie Langer, I was so f***ing nervous,” he grins. “But Alfie, he just looks at me and says ‘relax mate, it’s going to be a great game’.

“Which was his way of saying, man, do your best.

“That’s it.

“And you know, over the years I’ve been lucky enough to be coached by guys like Johnny Cartwright, Matt Elliott, these were NRL coaches who just wanted the best for the game, and for us, over here.”

Now a physical education teacher in Philadelphia, Preston says he would happily take up the NRL’s cause on American soil.

“And I’m not asking for $400,000,” he says. “Just give me 400 Steedens.

“We can make this happen.

“I mean, thanks to rugby league I’ve travelled the world, made so many memories, and now I’m sitting here drinking Miller Lites with Timmy Brasher.

“I owe this game so much.”