GetUp is a local responsible gambling organization that has been working hard to impose betting limits for poker machines across the country. What makes GetUps fight so unique is that the organization is has placed its focus on one pokies operator – Woolworths. As the biggest provider of poker machines in Australia, GetUp believes that its acceptance of betting limits will cause other providers to follow suit.
To get its point across, GetUp has enlisted in the help of the local community. The organization has tried, on its own, to get Woolworths to impose betting limits – to no avail. Now, GetUp is urging the Australian public to take up the cause and request that Woolworths consider the option of equipping its machines with limiting software.
Their ultimate goal is to have Australian residents send thousands of letters of the company, filling its inbox and mailbox with requests for betting limits. “That’s an avalanche of letters that will run from neighbourhood stores right through the company to get the attention of the board and CEO,” reads a statement from GetUp.
“When Woolworths hears that stores across the country have been receiving thousands of thoughtful, passionate letters from GetUp members they’re going to take notice”. The campaign is called Special Delivery, and all supporters have to do is print off a letter provided by GetUp. There are a few fields to fill in to personalise the letter, and then they can deliver it to their local Woolworths store.
GetUp encourages locals to send their letters in before October 27. This is because Woolworths is holding an Extraordinary General Meeting at the end of the month. With the flood of letters that GetUp hopes to send, it is likely to encourage the company’s executives to discuss the prospect of imposing betting limits at the upcoming meeting.
It is a great idea, as the Special Delivery campaign will show Woolworths that there is a real demand for betting limits among the local community. Should Woolworths adopt betting limits, we can expect other gaming operators to follow suit, ensuring that players across the country do not spend more than they can afford to while playing pokies.