Westgate Snags Biggest Casino Publicity Coup of 2025 With “Pluribus”

By Scott Roeben, on December 10 2025
4 min read 0 comments
Las Vegas

Apple TV’s “Pluribus” is one of the biggest hits being streamed right now.

The series is a little sci-fi, a little psychological thriller, a little black comedy and a huge showcase for our very own Westgate resort. A recent episode featured Las Vegas and Westgate in a big way, providing global visibility for the town and a storied hotel just off The Strip.

Warning: There may be “Pluribus” spoilers in this story. Shame on you if you haven’t watched it yet.

On a recent episode of “Pluribus,” Westgate was the star of the show.

“Pluribus” comes from Vince Gilligan, the mind behind “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul.” Perhaps you’ve heard of them. Gilligan also spent some time as a writer on “The X Files.” When you watch “Pluribus,” you’ll definitely see that DNA.

The show follows Carol Sturka (played by Rhea Seehorn), who becomes one of the few humans on Earth who are immune to a mysterious alien virus. The virus has infected the rest of humanity, transforming them into a hive mind called the “Others,” a collective consciousness where individuality is gone.

You know, like being in public relations.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority should be kissing Vince Gilligan’s feet for this shot as Carol drives into Las Vegas. From the north. On Las Vegas Blvd. Even though she came from Albuquerque, which is to the east. We are not going to be one of those people.

Anyway, Carol must navigate this transformed world, resist assimilation and figure out what’s really behind the “joining,” questioning whether forced happiness and unity are a paradise or a prison.

Oh, and the “Others” eat human remains (HDP, or human derived protein) to survive. Long story.

In an early episode of “Pluribus,” we noted a mention of Westgate on the Twitters. It seemed an oddly specific reference, but in the series’ sixth episode, Westgate was the star of the show.

In episode six of the show, “HDP,” Las Vegas takes center stage and Westgate steps into the limelight.

Carol visits Koumba Diabaté, a smarmy but likable member of the immune tribe. Diabaté is one of the humans who isn’t really seeing the alien virus problem as a negative, because the “hive” is pretty much determined to make the immune humans as happy as possible.

For Diabaté, that means he’s commandeering Air Force One, driving a different exotic car each day of the week and reveling in luxury at, wait for it, Westgate.

Oh, and he likes women. Lots of women.

No matter how much fun you’re having in Vegas, please don’t invite the housekeeper to join you. They have rooms to turn.

Westgate is all over episode six, including the resort’s famed marquee and two of its most luxurious suites.

We asked Westgate how this partnership came about, and heard back from Dawn Rawle, Westgate’s Senior Vice President of Marketing: “Apple TV’s team initially reached out to explore Westgate as a potential location, and once they conducted the scout, they were genuinely captivated by the scale and iconic character of our Sky Villas, and I believe that inspired a larger creative vision for the episode.”

Agreed.

Westgate has several high-end suites, all under the Sky Villa umbrella: Verona, Versailles and Imperial. Other villas include the Ambassador, Mediterranean and European.

The Imperial and Verona Sky Villas were the ones featured on “Pluribus.”

You’ll have to watch the episode to see where the TV is. Hint: It’s badass.

You can actually take 360-degree tours of the villas on Westgate’s Web site.

Fun fact: If you watch the episode closely, you’ll see a fancy elevator leading up to the Sky Villas. The wallpaper installed by the production is still in the elevator at Westgate.

We trust there isn’t usually a couch in the elevator. We know how people are.

Westgate scored bigtime with this partnership, and one can only hope the “Pluribus” storyline circles back to Las Vegas again, despite Carol’s dig at Vegas.

If you’re going to indulge in debauchery, where else would you go?

“Pluribus” has sparked great conversation, including about what happens when you can have anything you want, all the time.

Some have noted the exploits of Diabaté in episode six have echoes of a “Twilight Zone” episode where a guy gets everything he wants, “A Nice Place to Visit.” In the episode, a crook named “Rocky” Valentine is shot and finds himself in a seemingly perfect afterlife where a guide named Mr. Pip grants his every wish, including money, women and endless luck. In the end, boredom and the lack of challenge make him realize he’s actually in hell.

Which has no connection to Las Vegas whatsoever, so just ignore we ever mentioned it!

Another fun fact: Carol in “Pluribus” was named after Carol Burnett. Sturka came from a “Twilight Zone” episode, “Third From the Sun.”

Vince Gilligan is a big fan of “Twilight Zone.”

How has Westgate’s placement in “Pluribus” been received at the resort?

Dawn Rawle says, “With Vince Gilligan at the helm, we certainly anticipated ‘Pluribus’ would make an impact, but seeing the level of success—and the way the show has spotlighted Westgate’s legendary legacy—has exceeded expectations.”

Understatement of the year.

This sort of brand lift is invaluable, introducing Westgate and its plush digs to a vast new audience.

Behold, the Holy Grail of pop culture visibility for a Las Vegas casino.

Most can’t afford the Sky Villas, but it’s not really about that.

With this depiction, Westgate is cast in a new light. No lanyards, just dreamy surroundings with indulgence at your fingertips.

If you haven’t seen “Pluribus,” get on that.

The show is an undeniable hit, although, it’s not like hits back in the day. When there were basically three networks, there were watercooler shows. The ones everyone was watching and everyone was chatting about the next day around the, this isn’t rocket science, watercooler. Now, it’s like everyone has their own watercooler.

“Pluribus” is its most successful new drama series debut on Apple TV ever, beating the record previously held by “Severance” season two. “Pluribus” was the number one most-watched streaming original series in the U.S. for the week ending Nov. 16, 2025. It has a 98% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

All this means glorious legions of eyeballs and priceless buzz for Westgate.

Casinos dream of exposure like this, and it’s especially true for a legacy hotel that doesn’t get a lot of love in pop culture. At the moment, Westgate is experiencing a halo of cool, one that will live forever in syndication.