Slot machine placement is one of the most-discussed topics in gambling. Many players are convinced that casinos strategically place machines around the casino.
Gambling establishments that engage in this practice allegedly want to trick naive gamblers. But are casinos really this diabolical?
They’re not—as you’ll see below. In fact, casino personnel don’t really have time to worry about placing low-paying games in certain spots.
What’s the Concept Behind Slot Machine Placement?
Decades ago, noted gambling author Frank Scoblete interviewed a Las Vegas casino manager. One revelation from the interview is that casinos strategically place slot machines to maximize their winnings.
The manager said that they put their lowest-paying games in the front of the casino. Meanwhile, they place their highest-paying slots in secluded areas.
The idea was obvious: casinos would draw more play from their low-playing games and thus earn more profits.
Why Is Slot Machine Placement Out of Fashion?
Casinos have grown greatly in the decades since Scoblete’s interview. Many now feature thousands of slot machines.
A floor manager doesn’t have time to go through every game and strategically place it. After all, they have a lot of other important duties to fulfill.
Instead of worrying about shuffling high/low RTP games, casinos are more concerned with maximizing play. They put the most-popular slot machines in high-traffic areas.
Meanwhile, they can place a more-niche title in a low-traffic area and still draw fans of such games.
Was Slot Machine Placement Ever Valid?
Based on Scoblete’s interview, yes, slot machine placement did have a place in the gambling world at one time.
Back then, many casinos were dealing with between 400 and 1,000 slot machines. Although still a tall task, this amount of slots allowed for more maneuvering.
Today, though, casinos would waste more time and manpower worrying about machine placement. They’re better off just maximizing play above all.