Volumes have been written on this subject, and the conflict and interchanges about where the "hot" slot machines are placed in a casino are still there – 60 yrs after one armed bandits were first placed in the casinos.
The standard rule is that the best slots were positioned just inside the main foyer of the casino; so that individuals going by would see jackpot winners … be convinced to come unto the gaming floor … play. Our perspective is that this is not so anymore.
The great majority of the big name casinos presently are magnificent complexes and now you can’t see inside from the sidewalk, so there is no longer a reason to have the ‘loose’ slot machines close-by any entrances or exits.
Another standard rule is that loose one armed bandits are located on the major aisles in the casinos, again so that more folks could see winning jackpots and be roused to play. Notably however, 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 the 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.