RFB vs RLB: Understanding Full Casino Comps

Casino comps come in tiers, and the acronyms used internally at Las Vegas properties have leaked into general player vocabulary. Understanding what each level actually covers — and what separates them — makes it much easier to know what your play qualifies you for and what to ask your host to authorize.

RFB: Room, Food, and Beverages

RFB is the full comp package: the casino covers your room, your meals at property restaurants, and beverages. At upper tiers, RFB may also include resort fees, parking, spa access, show tickets, or invitation to player events. The exact scope depends on the property and your account level, but the principle is consistent — the property is picking up the full cost of your stay.

RFB is not something most players receive automatically. It is typically authorized by a casino host after reviewing your ADT (theoretical loss) across one or more trips. A host at a major Strip property might authorize full RFB for a player generating several hundred dollars of theo per day across a multi-night stay. The threshold rises significantly at premium properties like Bellagio, Wynn, or ARIA.

RLB: Room, Limited Beverages

RLB covers your room and beverages at the bar or with your play — but not meals at property restaurants. It is one tier below RFB and typically applies to players whose play is solid but does not yet justify food comps at the property's restaurants. The 'limited' in the beverages refers to the scope, not the amount — it means bar-service and table drinks, not comp tabs at signature dining.

Some properties use RLB as a transitional status — a player who has done two or three trips of consistent play might get RLB before being upgraded to full RFB. A host can sometimes upgrade an RLB to RFB by manually authorizing a restaurant comp if the player's theo supports it.

Other comp tiers

• RF (Room and Food): less common, covers room and meals without beverage comp. Seen at some properties and older programs.
• RB (Room and Beverages): similar to RLB but may be applied when meals are excluded by policy rather than by play level.
• Room only: a comped or heavily discounted room with no food or beverage comp attached.
• Retail comps: comp dollars applied as a credit toward purchases, restaurants, or spa services at the property. These flow from slot play points and tier status without a host.
• Free play: electronic credits that can be wagered in slot machines or video poker, issued through the loyalty program.
• Airfare: the highest-tier comp, extended to players with very high ADT. Covers or partially covers flights, sometimes in premium class. Host-managed and tracked against annual theo.

How to get upgraded from RLB to RFB

The upgrade from RLB to full RFB is primarily a function of your ADT. Three levers:

• Increase your theo: more plays, higher average bets, or longer sessions push your ADT up. A host who sees consistent growth in your account will upgrade your comp tier to match.
• Concentrate your play at one property: players who spread the same wallet across five properties generate thin theo everywhere. Consolidating to one property builds an ADT that supports a real host relationship and higher comp authorization.
• Ask directly: tell your host you would like to know what it would take to move to full RFB. Hosts can tell you exactly what your account needs to reach the next threshold — and some will authorize a one-time food comp on a stay where your play is strong, even before you formally cross the tier.

How your host manages your comp tier

Your host operates with a comp budget tied to the theoretical value of the accounts they manage. They can authorize comps up to a percentage of that budget; anything above their authorization level requires manager approval. When you receive RFB, your host has logged that authorization against your account's theo. This is why hosts track trips and account for total comp value relative to total theo — it is part of their performance metrics.

If you want to understand how your play translates to specific comp tiers at a property, the clearest path is asking your host directly. See How to Ask for Casino Comps for the right framing.