Books have been set forth on this topic, and the debates and feuds about where the "hot" video slots are installed in a casino are still intense – more than 60 yrs after slot machines were 1st installed in casinos.
The standard rule is that the best slot machines were positioned just inside the main entrance of the casino; so that individuals going by would be able to see real jackpot winners and be attracted to come into the casino … play. Our resolve is that this is no longer true.
The great majority of the large casinos today are herculean complexes … you no longer can see inside from the sidewalk, so there’s no longer a reason to put the ‘loose’ slot games near any exits.
Another classic rule is that loose slot machine games are put on the major aisles in the casinos, again so that more persons could see winning jackpots and be influenced 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 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 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 perspective about where to place the loose one armed bandits.