The woman who plays against Huck Cheever (Eric Bana) for the spot on the World Series of Poker Tournament is Jennifer Harman, a real-life professional poker player, and the only woman to hold two bracelets in World Series Of Poker open events.
The "Golf Marathon" wager is based on a real-life proposition bet involving professional poker player Huck Seed. Seed won the bet.
When a hand of a pair of tens and a pair of fours is referred to as a Broderick Crawford, it was because Crawford frequently used the radio code "10-4" to end radio messages on his popular syndicated television show, Highway Patrol (1955).
When Huck Cheever walks in to the poker room in the Bellagio you can hear a player say "Raisy daisy". This person is a real-life poker pro, named Sam Farha. He is known to frequently use this phrase when playing poker. In the poker show High Stakes Poker (2006), the players are also discussing this part in the movie. Patrik Antonius, another poker pro, said to Sam "You was the only one they let talk". Sam replied "What about Jennifer? (Harman) She was a happy loser! I have never seen her such a happy loser!"
The name of the main character, Huck Cheever, is a nod to professional poker player, Huck Seed. Winner of the 1996 World Series of Poker Main Event.