Volumes have been written on this topic, and the contention and feuds about where the "hot" slots are placed in a casino are still intense – more than 60 years after slots were first placed in casinos.

The quintessential rule is that the better slots were positioned just inside the main entrance of the casino; so that potential gamblers passing by would see real jackpot winners and be smitten to come unto the gaming floor … play. Our view is that this is no longer true.

Almost all of the major casinos presently are massive complexes … you can no longer see inside from the sidewalk, so there is no longer a reason to have the ‘loose’ slot machines in close proximity to any of the doors.

Another classic rule is that loose slot machines are positioned on the major aisles inside the casinos, again so that more potential gamblers could see winning jackpots and be inspired 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 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 very 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 philosophy about where to place the loose one armed bandits.