Volumes have been said on this matter, and the conflict and discussion about where the "hot" slot machine games are installed in a casino are still rampant – 60 yrs after slot games were 1st placed in casinos.
The standard rule is that the more favourable slot machine games were installed just inside the main foyer of the casino; so that potential gamblers walking by would be able to see real jackpot winners and be aroused to come inside … play. Our conclusion is that this is definitely no longer so.
Most of the major casinos today are behemothic complexes … it is not possible to see inside from the sidewalk, so there is no longer a reason to put the ‘loose’ slot machine games near any entrances or exits.
Another standard rule is that loose slot machine games are put on the major aisles inside the casinos, again so that more fun seekers could see winning jackpots and be galvanized to play. Importantly 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 machine 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 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.