Volumes have been set forth on this topic, and the debates and face-offs about where the "hot" one armed bandits are placed in a casino are still there – more than 60 yrs after slot machines were first placed in gambling dens.
The traditional rule is that the more favourable slot machine games were positioned just inside the door of the casino; so that fun seekers walking by would see real jackpot winners and be captivated to come inside … play. Our inference is that this is definitely no longer true.
The great majority of the major casinos these days are massive complexes … it’s no longer possible to see inside from the sidewalk, so there’s no longer a reason to put the ‘loose’ slot machine games in close proximity to any entrances or exits.
Yet another classic rule is that loose slots are put on the major aisles in the casinos, again so that more folks could see winning jackpots and be encouraged to play. Importantly though, we find that this also is no longer a universal rule.
What casinos found over the years is that people walking down the busy aisles were frequently on the way to somewhere else. If they played slot machine games at all, they would simply put in their loose change because they happened to be walking by. Win or lose, they would very often not stop to keep playing. And the last thing a casino wants is for someone to win a jackpot by playing only a few coins and then not stay to put it all back in!
In recent times, casinos are constantly changing their perspective about where to place the loose one armed bandits.