05.04
Slot Machine Location
Books have been said on this subject, and the disquiet and feuds about where the "hot" one armed bandits are placed in a casino are still happening – sixty years after slots were 1st placed in gambling houses.
The traditional rule is that the more favourable slot machines were installed just inside the main entry of the casino; so that people passing by would be able to see jackpot winners and be challenged to come inside and play. Our speculation is that this is definitely no longer the case.
The great majority of the big name casinos nowadays are humongous complexes … it’s no longer possible to see inside from the sidewalk, so there’s no longer a reason to situate the ‘loose’ slot machines close-by any entrances.
An additional traditional rule is that loose slot machine games are located on the major aisles inside the casinos, again so that more potential players could see winning jackpots and be inspired to play. Nonetheless, 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 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!
Today, casinos are constantly changing their perspective about where to place the loose one armed bandits.