Volumes have been stated on this issue, and the controversy and disagreement about where the "hot" slot machines are located in the casino are still taking place – over 60 yrs after the slots were first placed in the casinos.
The standard rule is that the better slot games were put just inside the main door of the casino; so that folks going by would be able to see real jackpot winners and be influenced to come into the casino … play. Our sentiment is that this is definitely no longer so.
The great majority of the big name casinos nowadays are massive complexes and it is not possible to see inside from the sidewalk, so there’s no longer a reason to put the ‘loose’ slot machines near to any doors.
Another traditional rule is that loose slot machine games are located on the major aisles inside the casinos, again so that more persons could see winning jackpots and be roused to play. 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 one armed bandits 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!
Nowadays, casinos are constantly changing their philosophy about where to place the loose slots.