Songfacts®:

• The phrase "ace in the hole" is a poker term meaning that player's hole card (the one turned down) is an ace, giving him an edge in the game. The saying is often used to mean an advantage kept hidden until needed. In this song, there's a sultry vixen, and the only chance our hero has with her is if he plays his "ace in the hole."
• Saint Motel lead singer A/J Jackson got the idea for this song when the band was playing a gig near Las Vegas, where slot machines are everywhere. After hearing the slot machine sounds, he decided to re-create them on piano, which became the basis for the riff. With the musical idea complete, he wrote the lyric around the theme, using gambling metaphors throughout the song. (Check out our A/J Jackson interview.)
• Hall & Oates get a mention in this song with the line, "She eats up men like Hall & Oates." This is a reference to the duo's 1982 hit, "Maneater."