RFB is the most famous comp in casino history, and the one most players misunderstand. The letters stand for Room, Food, and Beverage — the three things a casino will give a valued player for free. A full RFB comp means your suite, your meals, and your drinks are all covered, and at the top end it extends to limo transfers, show tickets, and spa treatments. RFB is not a perk the casino hands out generously; it is a calculated investment in a player whose theoretical loss justifies the cost.

RFB is earned on theoretical loss, not on actual loss. The casino calculates your theo from your average bet, the game, and the hours played, then returns a percentage of it as comps — typically 20% to 40%. A blackjack player betting $500 a hand for four hours generates a theo of roughly $1,200, which supports about $300 to $480 in comps per day. A slots player at the same theo generates the same comp value, but reaches it faster because the house edge is higher. The casino does not care whether you won or lost on the day; it cares what your play is worth over time.

Full RFB covers the room, all meals in the casino's restaurants, and beverages — including drinks at the tables and in the bars. At the highest levels, it also covers the minibar, room service, and the resort fee. What it does not cover, unless your host agrees it separately, is shopping, the spa, golf, and show tickets at partner venues — those are charged to the room and may be comped afterwards at the host's discretion. Always check with your host before you charge something to the room, because a declined comp becomes a bill.

Your host is the person who authorises RFB, and the relationship matters. A host who knows you, trusts your play, and expects you back will authorise comps generously and in advance. A host meeting you for the first time will wait until your play is rated and the theo is clear. Introduce yourself on arrival, let the host know your plans, and ask what is covered before you spend. Hosts have discretion, and they use it for players who are easy to work with and honest about their play.

For most high rollers, cashback is worth more than RFB, because cash has no expiry and no restrictions. But RFB has a value cash cannot match: the experience. A suite overlooking the Strip, dinner in the casino's best restaurant, and drinks all night are worth more than their face value when you would have bought them anyway. The smartest players take both — they negotiate the rebate in cash and let the host cover the room and meals. If you only ever get one, ask for the cash. If you can get both, you are playing at the right level.

RFB is the foundation, but a good host can authorise far more. Show tickets are the most common extra — the casino's own productions, and often partner shows on the Strip. Spa treatments and golf rounds are next, usually charged to the room and comped at checkout if your play justifies it. Shopping credits at the resort's stores, airfare reimbursement for your next trip, and tickets to sporting events are all within a host's discretion for top players. The key is to ask before you spend, not after: a host who has approved a spa day in advance will comp it; a host presented with a $2,000 bill they never agreed to may not. Some hosts will also arrange experiences outside the casino — a table at a fully booked restaurant, a private tour, or a car for the weekend. These are the comps that turn a good trip into a memorable one, and they cost the host nothing to arrange if your play supports them. Build the relationship first, and the extras follow.