Wimbledon’s bookmakers are experiencing an increase in the amount of customers betting on a white Christmas this year.
December brings about a spike in novelty bets, ranging from the number one Christmas single to whether snow will fall on the 25th.
Bookmakers have cut their odds to 3/1 after a week of cold weather in Wimbledon.
Horse racing still makes up the bulk of bookmakers’ takings – approximately two thirds – but with Christmas fast approaching festive bets become more common.
Dan Rogers, 33, manager of a Coral branch on The Broadway, said: “We are definitely seeing a much more varied clientele right now.
“A lot of people give a novelty bet as a Christmas present,” he added.
A spokeswoman from Jennings, on The Broadway, said: “Last week one man came in and placed 200 £1 bets on a white Christmas to give to each of his staff.”
The best odds can be found at BetFred, on Wimbledon Hill Road, who are offering 10/3 for a white Christmas in London.
The Christmas number one single is always a popular bet.
Ladbrokes, on Merton High Street, are offering 5/1 for the Justice Collective to take the top spot.
The identity of Derek Branning’s killer in EastEnders has also attracted a lot of interest.
A Bet365 spokesman said: “It’s a hard one to gauge. There is no real favourite – we are seeing money coming in for so many different characters from one day to the next.”
Derek’s niece, Lauren, is the current favourite though, priced at 6/1 with Ladbrokes.
With the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award to be decided this weekend, Bradley Wiggins has emerged as the odds-on favourite.
A spokeswoman from Paddy Power, of Gladstone Road, said: “Wiggo looks nailed on, but we’ve seen a bit of money for Mo Farah and Jess Ennis too.”
The most common novelty bet in the UK is parents backing their children to play for football for England, with bookies typically offering odds of 10,000/1 at birth.
Odds were correct as of 17:55 on 12/12/12 according to oddschecker.co.uk.
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