Books have been stated on this subject, and the contention and disagreement about where the "hot" one armed bandits are placed in the casino are still there – more than 60 yrs after slot machines were first installed in gambling dens.
The classic rule is that the very best slot machine games were positioned just inside the entrance of the casino; so that persons passing by would see jackpot winners and be stirred to come inside and play. Our verdict is that this is no longer the case.
Practically all of the major casinos these days are enormous complexes … you no longer can see inside from the sidewalk, so there’s no longer a reason to put the ‘loose’ slot machine games close to any doors.
An additional traditional rule is that loose slot machines are installed on the major aisles inside the casinos, again so that more fun seekers could see winning jackpots and be galvanized to play. However, 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 the slot machines 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 very 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 slot machines.