Volumes have been stated on this topic, and the controversy and squabbling about where the "hot" slots are positioned in the casino are still raging – 60 yrs after one armed bandits were first placed in gambling dens.
The classic rule is that the more favourable slot machines were located just inside the main entrance of the casino; so that everyone going by would be able to see actual jackpot winners and be convinced to come inside and play. Our sneaking suspicion is that this is definitely no longer the case.
The majority of the major casinos presently are jumbo complexes … you can no longer see inside from the sidewalk, so there’s no longer a reason to place the ‘loose’ slot games in close proximity to any doorways.
Yet another standard rule is that loose one armed bandits are placed on the major aisles inside the casinos, again so that more people could see winning jackpots and be energized 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 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 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.