Volumes have been said on this topic, and the conflict and discussion about where the "hot" slots are located in the casino are still bubbling – over sixty yrs after slot machines were first placed in the casinos.
The traditional rule is that the superior slots were positioned just inside the main entry of the casino; so that people passing by would be able to see real jackpot winners and be stirred to come unto the gaming floor and play. Our frame of mind is that this is no longer true.
Nearly all of the large casinos nowadays are mammoth complexes … now you can’t see inside from the sidewalk, so there’s no longer a reason to put the ‘loose’ slot machine games near to any entrances.
An additional standard rule is that loose slot machines are put on the major aisles in the casinos, again so that more potential players could see winning jackpots and be encouraged to play. Importantly 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!
Today, casinos are constantly changing their philosophy about where to place the loose slots.