Volumes have been stated on this topic, and the bickering and face-offs about where the "hot" slots are located in the casino are still raging – more than 60 years after one armed bandits were first added to the gaming floor in gambling houses.
The classic rule is that the most favorable slot machine games were installed just inside the main entryway of the casino; so that people passing by would be able to see actual jackpot winners and be captivated to come inside and play. Our viewpoint is that this is no longer true.
Many of the big name casinos presently are herculean complexes … it is not possible to see inside from the sidewalk, so there is no longer a reason to put the ‘loose’ one armed bandits close-by any exits.
An additional classic rule is that loose slots are placed on the major aisles in the casinos, again so that more potential players could see winning jackpots and be energized 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 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 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 perspective about where to place the loose one armed bandits.