Primm’s Closed Whiskey Pete’s Featured in the Final Season of HBO’s ‘Hacks’ |

Published on: May 29, 2026, 08:35h.

Updated on: May 29, 2026, 08:35h.

As HBO’s Hacks concluded its five-season journey this week, viewers revealed the fully transformed version of the Las Vegas casino resort that Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) and her savvy manager Marcus (Carl Clemons-Hopkins) acquired and redeveloped. On screen, it goes by the name The Diva. Interestingly, many fans were unaware until now that the pivotal moment when Marcus first falls for the location was not filmed in the heart of downtown but at the real, deserted Whiskey Pete’s in Primm, NV.

Whiskey Pete’s Casino — Whiskey Pete’s, the once-popular casino welcoming I-15 travelers for nearly 50 years, has remained closed since 2024. Yet it just received an unexpected feature on-screen. (Image: Etienne Laurent/AFP via Getty)

In Season 5, Episode 3 titled “No New Tricks,” Marcus and his former partner explore the dilapidated casino he is eager to revive.

“One of the last historic casinos in Vegas is about to be demolished,” he expresses as they stroll through the shadowy rows of slot machines. “With some effort, this could transform into an exciting destination for travelers looking for something unique.”

Scene from Hacks — This critical scene from the final season of *Hacks* was filmed on the vacant gaming floor of Whiskey Pete’s. (Image: HBO Max)

While the fictitious failing casino was dubbed Paradiso, its exterior was represented through cleverly disguised imagery of the Plaza Hotel & Casino in downtown Vegas. The use of Whiskey Pete’s for interior shots was kept under wraps until Architectural Digest revealed it this week.

In an interesting turn reminiscent of the show’s themes, reality is now mirroring the storyline.

As Hacks concluded, Kristopher Roach, CEO of LV Petroleum, made a public proposal to revive Whiskey Pete’s along with a nearby truck stop. The Primm family, who owns the property, indicated that several proposals are currently under consideration.

Viva Hacks’ Las Vegas

The Diva's Neon Sign — The neon signage for The Diva was inspired by the hand-painted classics from the 1950s. “They all have this unique handmade quality,” explained production designer Rob Tokarz to *Architectural Digest*. “It’s not a font; it’s hand-drawn.” (Image: HBO Max)

Although Hacks has long been set partially in Las Vegas, many locations such as the interiors of the fictional Palmetto Casino and Deborah’s residence were primarily filmed on L.A. soundstages.

Fictional casinos are commonly portrayed in films and television for legal and logistical reasons. Utilizing a real casino’s name can lead to trademark complications, location fees, insurance challenges, and screenplay approvals needed from property executives concerned with how their venue is depicted.

Filming for Hacks began to incorporate more Las Vegas locations starting in Season 4, with Episode 3 (“What Happens in Vegas”) showcasing the El Cortez in-depth.

By the fifth season, nearly all scenes were shot in Las Vegas, with real venues included, such as the Bellagio, Caesars Palace, and the Plaza Hotel & Casino — featuring both the interior of Deborah Vance’s Comedy Club and the exterior of The Diva.

Ultimately, Hacks delivered a final narrative that beautifully encapsulates the Vegas experience: a fictional tale about rescuing a struggling casino, filmed entirely within the confines of a real, struggling casino — now with potential saviors eager to revive it.

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