by Renee Israel
As weather conditions across the UK became more extreme over the weekend,
bookmakers are hurrying to slash their odds on the chances of a White Christmas
in many regions across the country.
The first snow of winter hit the UK this weekend, and the Met Office
predicted snow for Scotland early this week,
A sharp cold snap is set to affect parts of the East Coast and Northern
England this week, with these areas expected to welcome in the season's snow.
Because of these weather conditions, White Christmas odds were slashed
by bookmakers such as Ladbrokes and William Hill for many areas in the UK.
Ladbrokes, the well-known UK sports betting and online gambling group, said
that it had slashed its betting odds of a White Christmas in many parts of the
country due to the new weather predictions.
Ladbrokes' odds on snow falling in London on Christmas Day, for example, fell
from 10/1 to 5/1, while the chances of snow falling in Newcastle on Tyne are
currently 3/1.
The Met Office has said that Scotland, the North East of England and the
Eastern Coast should experience snow this Christmas, while the Midlands, South
West and Wales should escape the worst of the extreme weather conditions.
Speaking for Positive Weather Solutions, Jonathan Powell added: "We may not
see a mirror image of last year's weather with widespread snow but the chances
of a white Christmas for large parts of the country are quite high. North East
England and Scotland have a 35 - 40% chance of a White Christmas."
William Hill Offering White Christmas Odds
William Hill bookmaker is also offering odds on a White Christmas and covers
most of the areas in the country.
Odds at William Hill for Snow on Christmas Day:
Belfast International Airport - Yes - 5/1; No - 1/9
Bristol - Yes - 6/1; No - 1/12
Dublin Airport - Yes - 5/1; No - 1/9
Edinburgh - Yes - 11/4; No - 1/4
Glasgow - Yes - 4/1; No - 1/7
Leeds - Yes - 6/1; No - 1/12
Liverpool - Yes - 5/1; No - 1/12
London - Yes - 5/1; No - 1/9
Manchester - Yes - 6/1; No - 1/12
Newcastle - Yes - 5/1; No - 1/9
Nottingham - Yes - 6/1; No - 1/12
Oxford - Yes - 6/1; No - 1/12
York - Yes - 5/1; No - 1/9
