Free Slots
Picture yourself spending your well-deserved holiday in the Antipode land of Victoria. You may think about spending your time seeing Melbourne or maybe some other hotspots on the Australian southern coast. There are many places to go, more people to meet, and countless memories to make.
But how about picturing yourself on the streets of a visibly-developing city? How about taking in the air of a sprawling, ascending, and vivid hub of urban culture? You may be simply taking a stroll, but the colour, youthfulness and excitement you’re absorbing are, perhaps, more than you ever expected.
As you make your way across these streets, you see the colourful graffiti tags of the youngsters willing to make their mark in a previously bland environment. You make a turn here and there, and you see the imposing portrait of an old man at sea. The creases under his eyes are as detailed as the waves of his beard and the ocean behind him. All of them in sombre and nostalgic tones.
You walk across a few more alleyways, and another wall reveals a mural of a young couple standing in a field of wildflowers, hand pointed at the sky. The colours are beautiful, and the atmosphere is uplifting. Such can be life when visiting Geelong, Victoria.
But there is more. The Australians certainly love their adventure, so how can one experience it? Seeing the Outback may sound the part, but how can you do it on the warm South Coast? You walk a little more, and you hear clinks; you see a little more colour. People cheer, people snarl, and you look a little better – where is this coming from?
Well – you’re witnessing the Aussies having a little taste of another of their favourite activities. The neon lights emanating from those machines evoke some familiarity. You’re looking at the colourful life of Australians taking their chances with their beloved slots – pokies, as they call them.
It is within this vivacious spirit that we invite you to join our exploration of a tale of two loves: the love of art and that of gambling. They may sound a bit disjointed, but who are we to underestimate the Aussies? Enter our tale of exploring the odd but fascinating relationship between Geelong – the home and hub of some outstanding street art – and the beloved pokies a national certainly enjoys.
Street Art in Geelong – How and Why it Became Popular
The City of Geelong in Historical Context
Before the street art adorning it, there was the city itself and its history. Geelong’s origins mix a name of aboriginal roots with a settlement dating back to 1838. The story of this settlement gravitates around several expeditions of European settlers in the lands of the traditional owners of the Wadawurrung tribe.
A few surveying quests later, including the arrivals of John Murray and Charles Grimes and the entire area of Corio Bay. A penal colony and, decades later, the coming of squatters started transforming the area into a bona fide settlement. An even greater contributor to the population rise was a gold rush in the area, attracting large numbers to a promising land.
The Industrialisation of the 20th Century Unknowingly Set the Scene
The development of Geelong is a very important factor in the story of its later street art scene. As we’ll explore later in this article, many of the creative hubs of today’s Geelong employ old industrial structures. These were the product of a quick-rising industrial complex in the city.
Various plants (such as the Ford plant in Norlane), a whiskey distillery, and, most importantly, woollen mills started appearing in the 1920s. This industrial acceleration went on even beyond the Second World War.
It is where we turn to a surprising catalyst in the story of Geelong’s art scene: the Federal change in tariff policy in the 1970s. It may sound quite unartistic, but this led to the closure of many of the industrial spaces mentioned previously, especially the woollen mills. The result was a city full of redundant structures but oozing with creative juice.
A City Full of Talent & In Need of a Revitalisation
Long story short, it is no surprise that UNESCO designated Geelong as a Creative City of Design. This distinction was awarded in 2017, and the genesis of such a title has been documented in the local cultural scene.
As part of Creative Geelong’s attempt to shed light on the city’s effort to revitalise itself through art, a series of three short documentaries showcases this phenomenon. This series bears the name ‘Hubcaps to Creative Hubs’ and is a revealing presentation of how 3 industrial structures transformed into the home of artistic initiatives.
The Powerhouse & Its Artistic ‘Offspring’
Another showcasing of the city’s initiative is the Powerhouse Geelong. In a 2015 article, The Guardian named this place ‘Australia’s street art Mecca’. This project followed simple principles: turning an abandoned place into a home for ripe artistic tendencies.
The chosen spot was a power plant with more than 50 years of abandonment in its history. Subsequently, the curator Ian Ballis had hundreds of artists express themselves with spray paint and brushes. The result was a place full of creative expression from international stars of street art like the Geelong native Rone and others like Remi, Ape Seven, Adnate, and many, many more.
And then they did it again. The Powerhouse was a project that started in late 2014, spawning a ‘sequel’ in 2021. Ballis returned to another 3,000 sqm place in Corio Boy, this time a former malt distillery.
The Malt House attracts artists from the local and national scene just as much as the Powerhouse and shows how the community is eager to transform its industrial past into an artistic present.
Geelong’s Signature Street Murals
Outside of these specially designated places, the city of Geelong adorns its streets as well. These creations range from encapsulations of the local identity to pop culture references. The entire city has recognisable murals distributed in the town’s numerous meaningful areas.
Geelong Street Art documents the most conspicuous and iconic murals per their own locations and meanings. The mural we described in this article’s introduction is ‘The Unknown Mariner’ – the creation of artist Cam Scale and sitting at 65 Brougham Street. Its meaning is a tribute to the city’s maritime history and its profound relationship with its port identity.
The other mural we described is a commissioned piece by Jasmine Crisp that sits at a spot called Cuzens Place (central Geelong). Its soothing and relaxing vibes are definitely helped by its colourful palette, perfectly encapsulating the youthful tones taking over Geelong.
There are tens of street-based pieces in the city to list them all. Varying styles from countless artists (named or anonymous) adorn the town, such as Laura Alice’s Mountain Girl – a piece attached to the side of the Karingal Gallery. You may even see a mural of American music icons and power couple Jay-Z and Beyoncé at 12-14 Union Street (courtesy of Danielle Webber).
Simply put, the streets of Geelong emanate an artistic air that understands that its environment belongs to its people – specifically to its youth. As such, the second-largest Victorian town takes its chances by painting vibrant colours and turning a new page in its journey of self-expression.
Nonconformist Art or Soft Vandalism?
Geelong proves that street art can easily be a genuine and beneficial art form. Many street artists associate the act of creating visual wonders with freedom in general, not only freedom of expression. As such, the law enforcement powers can look at this artistic endeavour as more than soft vandalism.
Using art as a tribute to one’s community, especially when financed and commissioned. It can revitalise a city. Unsurprisingly, a controlled and specially organised activity can do wonders for the community that enjoys said activity.
The Aussies and The Pokies – An Interesting Pastime
We’ve already looked at the tendency of the Australian folk towards the colourful. We’ve also mentioned how the Australian sense of adventure is part of its identity. Consequently, there aren’t many more things as exciting as testing your luck while having fun!
Gambling, in general, is a notable aspect of the average Australian’s pastime. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare itself delved deep into this phenomenon. This comprehensive study indicated that more than 73% of the surveyed adults participated in a form of gambling in 2022. The figures for men are especially surprising, with over 80% of them admitting to having gambled over the past 12 months.
This is quite understandable in light of the rise of online gambling, including the possibility of easily placing sports bets, playing real money and free slots, buying lottery tickets, etc. The male population looks to have a propensity for sports betting, horse racing, and pokies especially.
The Legislative Situation in Australia
All the wagering and gaming activities in Oz are possible due to their legality. This entertainment conduit follows both state and federal regulations. Each state has its own Commission (or similar regulatory body) that oversees gambling activities.
Such authorities include the ACT (Australian Capital Territory) Gambling and Racing Commission, the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission, and the Independent Gambling Authority in South Australia.
As for the legislative acts, most of them date back to the 90s and 2000s, with some expectations going back to the 1960s. Online gambling was legislatively tackled in Australia by The Interactive Gambling Act, which was passed and received assent in 2001.
This is the interesting part about iGaming in Australia. The laws dictate that online gambling operators cannot advertise or offer real money services to Australian residents. However, this means that Antipode-based operators can still provide services to people outside Australia. Moreover, the country’s residents can legally access online casinos and their services in complete legality.
The Lack of Taxation Explains the Appeal
While the operators pay taxes according to state legislation and the products they offer, players pay nothing.
The government has a fundamental opinion that the winnings are the products of good luck and are a recreational activity rather than a taxable income. As such, it encourages players to play and keep the entirety of their winnings.
Why Are Pokies, In Particular, So Attractive?
Another study conducted by the Australian Institute of Family Studies mentions that, among men, the prevalence of pokies represents 54% of their gambling activity. Such a situation can have numerous explanations, chief among them being accessibility. Playing them physically or online provides a lot of flexibility and freedom of choice.
Another explanation is how dynamic they can be. Pokies come in different shapes, including countless layouts, payment systems, betting ranges and themes. You can always look for new games and search for something that suits your taste. Moreover, spinning a hand is fast and easy, ensuring a quick and enjoyable pastime that is fun rather than tedious.
There’s also the payout potential that you shouldn’t underestimate. The kaleidoscopic nature of pokies extends from slot themes to their attached bonus codes. If you’re an Aussie player and are looking to make some quick dosh, then going for some free spins no deposit offers will turn a pokie into an even better form of having fun.
Lastly, it’s the excitement and adrenaline that can turn an Aussie into a genuine enjoyer.
Responsibility at the Future’s Forefront
The ascent of the tide of gambling has also motivated the Australian authorities to provide resources for those in need. These measures rely on the government’s introduction of BetStop.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority introduced this database as a measure of identifying people with problematic gambling. This measure allows the citizens to join a National Self-Exclusion Register on the basis of their possession of a driving licence or Medicare card.
This 2023-adopted measure is but a part of an ongoing initiative to help people have a relationship with gaming that is based on self-awareness. Self-regulation is likely to continue to rise in an effort to prioritise players’ safety. As a result, we can only expect more steps towards raising awareness and promoting responsible play.
The Principles That Connect Street Art and Slot Machines
As we draw nearer to our article’s conclusion, we prepare to encapsulate the basis of our thought process that connects Australian gambling and its street art scene. As we previously set up the context, it’s time to draw the dot-connecting lines.
An Adventurous Activity Adorning All Aspects
How many times have we mentioned the sense of adventure? Well, we’re about to do so one last time in this article. Getting used to an engaging and vivacious native environment attracts the need for engaging activities.
The freedom to have one turn to chance in the hope of a thrill sounds like gambling personified. You may go for a (financially) risky manoeuvre, but is it any less risqué than climbing a multi-story decrepit building to build a mural? Some sense of adrenaline adorns the lives of the Strayans, so why not express it? Be it through art or a pokie’s button.
A Colourful Make-Up
Vivid colours attract attention and, when paired properly, uplift one’s spirits to no end. Street art adopts various chromatic principles for the sake of avoiding visual cacophony. However, it also uses complete freedom of expression as its ethos. Its looks are supposed to ensure that it attracts your attention and immerses you in a lively community.
Pokies are highly similar in this regard, using the reels and rows as an interactive canvas. It may not be paper or parchment, but striking colours certainly play a part in a slot’s presentation.
The freedom of taking artistic liberties like arbitrarily choosing a theme, a style, or a colour palette certainly mixes pokies and street art together.
A Good Thing Necessitating Limited Usage
Public perception is a mixed bag regarding these two, but they can definitely be a beautiful thing when used properly.
When slots are over-used methods of gaining profit or sustaining oneself, they become a way of profiting from one’s susceptibility to addiction, perhaps naïveté. In the case of street art, thrown-around tags and defiling sketches are, simply put, vandalism.
But it does not have to be like this. Specially set-up places where the youth (and not only) can explore their artistic talent can prove to be incubators for expression, as we saw with Geelong, perhaps even a form of urban reinvigoration.
Pokies are fun when employed for entertainment purposes. One can play, have fun, and even win without having to be a whale-rivalling high-roller. Under certain circumstances, one can even try them for free, be it through no deposit bonuses or free-to-play versions of games.
The mainline argument is that one can easily enjoy street art or pokies when they are done responsibly and when their main ethos is nurtured rather than exploited. Enjoying an activity rather than being compelled by a utilitarian or extremist purpose is the best way to shave off the perceived stigma.
Future Outlook
Is acceptance rising for these exciting activities? Are there any trends you should expect in these respective fields? Let’s explore them and see what you can expect.
The Inevitability of Digitalisation
If we were to look at pokies in particular, we ought to look at the trajectory of online gambling. Many websites providing gaming services are increasingly blockchain-oriented, including bespoke crypto casinos that allow for the integration of this new-age tech.
In the context of art, we saw the appropriation of street-art-inspired NFTs and their subsequent fall out of fashion. While slots are just as enjoyable online as in real life, art is best enjoyed when taken in personally. Observing it, just as creating, has a certain panache when doing so live. Such is human nature when interacting with art – a portrayal of humanity’s very essence.
However, there are other technological aspects that do actually work in favour of both pokies and street art. The most conspicuous example is augmented reality, perhaps even virtual reality. Increasingly, more galleries use this technology to create interactive presentations of art and enhance how we interact with it. It’s a bit more difficult to do so with pokies, but the tech is getting there.
Awareness Is The Key
This very article serves as another reminder that showcasing controversial forms of self-expression and entertainment in a favourable light can do them justice. The case applies only when those mediums are worth it.
The rising emphasis on responsible gambling shows that understanding pokies and other forms of gaming is essential. Playing under the right circumstances and with the right mindset are principles that lead to more and more self-regulation.
Awareness in the field of street art showcases that using spray paint cans equates to more than crude vandalism. Making something beautiful out of desolate surfaces while using rudimentary tools is a form of artistic ingenuity, and people are starting to understand that art is more than posh paintings. They start to understand that urban culture is more than sterile concrete and steel.
Conclusion
As we finalise our efforts of adorning your life with more interesting information, let us recap our thoughts.
The idea behind the beauty of street art turns mundane instruments and places into expressions of beauty. Geelong and its vivid streets prove so. Pokies are a simple and engaging pastime that Australians seem to enjoy in unexpectedly high numbers.
In our humble opinion, the main takeaway is that interacting with these conduits of human behaviour depends on the assumed responsibility. Accepting the drawbacks of their excess can be a form of doing so. Ultimately, it’s up to each one of us to look at street art as simply a form of art and at pokies as simply a form of entertainment that should be treated accordingly.