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).
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.
The portrait (actually an enlarged photograph) hung on the wall during the final World Series of Poker match, is that of Benny Binion, the original owner of the Horseshoe, taken at his ranch in Montana.