Volumes have been said on this issue, and the conflict and arguments about where the "hot" slot machines are placed in a casino are still happening – more than 60 yrs after one armed bandits were first added to the gaming floor in casinos.
The classic rule is that the most favorable slot machines were installed just inside the main doorway of the casino; so that people passing by would be able to see real jackpot winners and be inspired to come unto the gambling floor … play. Our observation is that this is definitely no longer true.
Most of the big name casinos nowadays are grand complexes … it is not possible to see inside from the sidewalk, so there’s no longer a reason to have the ‘loose’ slot games near any exits.
An additional standard rule is that loose slot machines are placed on the major aisles inside the casinos, again so that more folks could see winning jackpots and be encouraged to play. Notably however, we find that this also is not 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 slot 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!
Today, casinos are constantly changing their philosophy about where to place the loose slots.
