Just back from a weekly visit at Belterra, the 9/6 JoB .25-$1.00 are a even $16.00 per point now, the .01-.25 50-100 hand machines are $20.00 coin in per point, just before I left this visit they shut everything down in middle room and were changing out all of the boards, after boards were changed I checked pay schedules and they were unchanged but I suspect they raised coin in on these as 1 week ago I visited and they were doing the same to 1st & last VP rooms while playing that visit it was $13.00 per point on STP 9/6 JoB on the .25-$1.00 machines and this visit they were $16.00 per point.

Coin in per point on NSUD progressive varied from $11 to $13 making it slightly better than JOB. Also progressive rounds up to nearest quarter so return is usually a little higher than the slow meter rate.

About two and one-half years ago, Belterra reduced their Cash Back on VP from $4 Coin In per .01 Cash Back to $8/.01. Then on 5-1-06, they suddenly reduced it to a range of $12-14.70 C/I per .01 CB. They have been gradually reducing it further to the point where it is now from over $13/.01 to about $15.75/.01 depending on the denomination and machine. These figures are all for 9/6 JB. The two upper tier players' card levels--Gold and Platinum--receive a CB bonus of 10% and 20% respectively. My guess is that they want to raise the C/I required to an even $16/.01. At that level, the Platinum card holders will receive a whopping .075% CB.

I just got back from Belterra Casino in Indiana. An unusual thing happened WHILE I was playing their 9/6 50 play JOB. When I started playing I was earning one point for each $8 of action I put through the machine, as I had done several times before. After a couple of hours of play on this the machine IT CHANGED and only rewarded a point after each $14.70 of play or so. I asked at the players club about this and was told that they are changing the way points are earned now and many variables are considered before a point is awarded. She said the machine, amount, speed, and other things are considered now but could not give me details about HOW they are considered now.

All of the 50 and 100 play machines in the database for Belterra Indiana also have 9/7/5 Double Bonus and 1-2-3-4-4-09-15-25-200-800 98.91% - LV Airport/Illinois Deuces. Plus there is one nickel spin poker machine on the lower level with 9/5 JB and 10/6/5 DB.

I visited Belterra on 5-31-05. They have added two machines in the High Limit area on the top floor--one $5 MG and one $2/5/10 MGMD. Both had shorted JOB (I think 8/5), but possibly some NSUD at the $5/10 level. Belterra is now completely TITO on both VP and slots. They are scheduled to open a new live poker room on 6-14-05 which was being constructed on the stern deck. I was happy to see that they weren't displacing some of the VP to make room for the poker room.

I visited on 4-9-05. Belterra is continuing with 3X points and CB on Tuesdays. In March, they started 2X/3X/4X CB for Champions Club/Gold Club/Platinum Club which they refer to as Cash Back Fridays. They only ran that once in April and that Cash Back Friday happened to be on a Saturday (although it was still billed as Cash Back FRIDAY). I don't think the promotions department has decided what they will do with Cash Back Fridays. They do seem to have increased the number of drawings for cash, cars, and TVs. There are a number of $1 vp machines to add to the database. I'm not sure if these were recent upgrades or if I overlooked them before. They are all on MG TITO .25/.50/1.00 machines. You have to check the pay tables carefully. These machines are mixed in among other machines with shorted pay tables. All of the .25/.50 games on these machines had shorted pay tables. Belterra has three vp "rooms" adjacent to each other on the bottom floor. The following are all on MG machines in the middle room: Three Game Kings with $1 9/6 JOB, two with $1 8/5 BP, and one with $1 9/6 DDBP. One Jacks or Better machine with $1 9/6 DDB and $1 8/5 BP. One Double Bonus Poker machine with $1 8/5 BP. One Double Double Bonus Poker machine with $1 9/6 JOB and $1 8/5 BP. One Triple Bonus Poker machine with $1 8/5 BP. The following are in one of the end rooms: Two Draw Poker MG 3/5/10-play machines that have $1 SA in 5/10-play only. There may be other games of note available as I did not check every game at every denomination at every number of lines played.

Although I had previously reported that all the vp was on the bottom floor, there are in fact about 10 bar top machines with short pay tables on the top floor. As of 3-1-05, Tuesdays continue to be 3X for Champion Club points and CB. Thursdays are now single point and CB days. Most Fridays (the first three in March) are now 2X for Champions Club, 3X for Gold Card, and 4X for Platinum Card, but only for CB and not for points. I assume this arrangement will continue in April, but am not yet certain. For CB and Champions Club points, the Belterra day runs from 6:00a.m-6:00a.m.

I was at Belterra on 1-4-05. I spent a fair amount of time at 5:30a.m. checking out the pay tables on most of the machines. The following is my update: There are two 100-play .01/.02/.05, JOB 9/6. There is one 100-play .05/.10, JOB 9/6. There are two 50-play .01/.02/.05, JOB 9/6. There is one 50-play .05/.10, JOB 9/6. There are three STP 3/5/10-play .25/.50/$1, JOB 9/6. The only other games I found that were over 99% were 8/5 BP on the 50- and 100-play machines and 9/6 DDB on the STP - location and game details are unknown.

Visited Belterra on 12-9-04. There are no VP in the high-limit areas. All 150 or so VP machines are on the bottom level. Best plays are probably two .25/.50/1.00 Super Times Pay with 9/6 JOB which return approximately 99.8% if my math is correct. Only other 9/6 JOB are about five 100-play and 50-play .05/.10 machines mixed in with 9/5 - location and game details are unknown.

In the last week Belterra has reduced the upgraded paytables they put in a few months ago. All 9/6 JoB have been reduced to 9/5 or 8/5 at all denominations except they still have at least 1-1 Cent,1-5 Cent and 1-10 Cent on a 50 and 100 Play. DDB 10/6/40 all downgraded to 9/6, Super Aces downgraded to 7/5 I think. The Multistike 9/6 machines were out of service today so I expect they are being reduced also. The best game I could find today other than the 50/100 9/6 Job was 8/5 Bonus, 8/5 ACES Bonus in .25 and $1.

VP seems basically unchanged. Nice variety of games included in the approximately 150 machines on the lower level. Check pay tables carefully because they differ on identical neighboring machines. 50-play and 100-play machines seem to alternate with 9/6 JOB and 9/5 JOB on every other machine. Neglected to check VP in high-limit area on top floor. Management not too cooperative on providing comp policy info. Hotel is nice. I prefer rooms in the old tower to newer rooms, although new rooms are nice. Older rooms have more luxurious baths with large Jacuzzi tub, large glass shower, remote TV, and separate water closet, all lacking in the new rooms. The outdoor pool that opened this summer is a nice addition. It is not enclosed, yet is billed as a heated pool open all year. I wonder if the pool designer ever spent a winter in the midwest. If you visit Belterra, you had better enjoy the casino because the only other activities available are golfing on their course (which I don't) and picking corn in the surrounding fields.

Major changes at Belterra as they triple the number of machines that they have (now almost 150). Current database inventory correct but add the following: 1. (6) 25c, 50c, $1 10/6 DDB (with 40 for STFL) in 3 play, 5 play and 10 play. TITO Slants 2. (1) 25c, 50c, $1 8/5 SA in 3 play, 5 play and 10 play. TITO Slants 3. (3) Super Times pay with 9/6 JOB in 25c, 50, $1 in 3/5/10 play. TITO Slants 4. (2) 9/6 JOB Multistrike at 25c, 50c, $1. Machines also have 12/4 DB Deuces (99.98%). One upright, One Slant, both TITO. 5. (6) Single line 25c,50c,$1 with FP 2P Jokers and 10/6/40 DDB. These are scattered between machines that don't have full pay so check. Also have 9/6 JOB. TITO Slants. 6. (12) Bank of 12/10/4/4/ $1 Deuces Wild with progressives on 5 of Kind, Deuces, STFL and Royal. Uprights. Lots of other machines with junk on them, so look carefully. All machines are TITO and have turbo speed buttons. These are the fastest multi-line machines I have ever seen! All VP is located on the lowest level of the boat. There are three VP parlors (two semi-enclosed and one open in the middle of the two). All single line 2P Jokers and DDB are in the open area. The multi-play, multi-demon are in each of the enclosed areas. Check each machine as only every other machine has the good games but there are still plenty to play. Belterra is a great place to stay. they have good food - jeff ruby's steakhouse - and the buffet is usually quite good. the rooms are great. they're big and have a marble bathroom with tv and jacuzzi tub - for two!

As someone also noted Belterra has doubled their # of VP at least. Nearly all their new machines are .25/.50/$1 MG TI/TO. Some of their initial good games have been downgraded (especially at the .25 level) so you have to be careful and look at the paytable. They have triple points on Tuesdays and Thursdays and beginning with the installation of the new machines have also added double points on Friday and Saturday. Their best games continue to be DDB 10/6/40, Super Aces, Bonus Poker Deluxe, JoB 9/6, DB 9/7, ACES Bonus, and BP. There is also 1 machine with $1 & $2 3/5/10 Play with DDB 10/6/40 and JoB.

Belterra has just installed a whole bunch of new machines some with the best pay tables (I believe) in Indiana. For instance they have 10/6 DDB (shorting the straight flush to 200 to stay under Indiana's no over 100% games radar) and a few other games also with good pay from nickels to multi-play dollars. The onle big drawback at the Belterra is the Cashback is a dismal .125.