Volumes have been stated on this item, and the disquiet and disagreement about where the "hot" slot machine games are installed in a casino are still there – over 60 years after slots were first placed in gambling houses.
The traditional rule is that the most favorable slot games were installed just inside the main foyer of the casino; so that everyone going by would be able to see real jackpot winners … be attracted to come inside and play. Our point of view is that this is definitely no longer so.
Nearly all of the mega casinos presently are herculean complexes … you no longer can see inside from the sidewalk, so there is no longer a reason to position the ‘loose’ one armed bandits in close proximity to any exits.
An additional traditional rule is that loose slot machine games are positioned on the major aisles inside the casinos, again so that more folks could see winning jackpots and be inspired to play. Notably though, 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 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 machines.