Books have been set forth on this subject, and the debates and feuds about where the "hot" slots are positioned in the casino are still happening – 60 yrs after the slot machines were first placed in gambling dens.
The standard rule is that the very best one armed bandits were installed just inside the entrance of the casino; so that casino fanatics walking by would be able to see jackpot winners … be tempted to come unto the gaming floor and play. Our inclination is that this is no longer the case.
Most of the big name casinos these days are giant complexes … it’s no longer possible to see inside from the sidewalk, so there’s no longer a reason to situate the ‘loose’ slot machine games close to any exits.
Yet another traditional rule is that loose slot games are positioned on the major aisles in the casinos, again so that more fun seekers could see winning jackpots and be inspired to play. Interestingly 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!
In recent times, casinos are constantly changing their philosophy about where to place the loose slot games.