Volumes have been stated on this matter, and the contention and discussion about where the "hot" slots are located in a casino are still happening – over 60 yrs after the slot machines were 1st placed in casinos.
The quintessential rule is that the superior slot games were located just inside the main entryway of the casino; so that fun seekers passing by would see jackpot winners … be stimulated to come unto the gambling floor … play. Our frame of mind is that this is definitely no longer true.
Many of the mega casinos presently are huge complexes and it’s no longer possible to see inside from the sidewalk, so there’s no longer a reason to have the ‘loose’ slot machines close-by any entrances.
Another traditional rule is that loose one armed bandits are located on the major aisles in the casinos, again so that more potential gamblers could see winning jackpots and be influenced 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 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 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 perspective about where to place the loose slot games.