Books have been written on this issue, and the contention and face-offs about where the "hot" slots are placed in the casino are still ongoing – over 60 years after slot machine games were first added to the gaming floor in gambling dens.
The traditional rule is that the best slot machines were placed just inside the entry of the casino; so that individuals walking by would be able to see real jackpot winners and be impressed enough to come inside … play. Our conclusion is that this is definitely no longer the case.
The majority of the large casinos these days are jumbo complexes … it’s no longer possible to see inside from the sidewalk, so there is no longer a reason to put the ‘loose’ slot machine games near any entrances or exits.
Another classic rule is that loose slot machine games are put on the major aisles inside the casinos, again so that more potential players could see winning jackpots and be inspired to play. Notably though, we find that this also isn’t a universal rule any more.
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 the slots 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!
Today, casinos are constantly changing their perspective about where to place the loose one armed bandits.