Bookmakers Face Festive Payout As Scotland Freezes

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1. Date: 2008-12-02 06:02:22
Subject: Bookmakers Face Festive Payout As Scotland Freezes
From: "bnozo" <b...@...com> Search message by this author

SUSAN SMITH

1 Dec 2008

SCOTLAND experienced its coldest spell so far this year, with temperatures
plummeting below freezing in large parts of the country over the weekend.

The temperature dropped to -12C on Saturday night in Braemar, Aberdeenshire
and it was expected to be around -7C in the Southern Uplands last night.

The below-average temperatures have led bookmakers to brace themselves for
their biggest-ever white Christmas pay-out.

The odds of snow on Christmas Day in Glasgow have now dropped to 3/1 from
8/1.

The city experienced some of the coldest weather in the country this
weekend, with fog keeping temperatures yesterday at -2C.

Widespread ice led to a weather warning yesterday morning from the Met
Office, which reported there could be a problem in some areas today if snow
and rain freeze on the ground.

There was snow on the hills across the north-west Highlands and Western
Isles yesterday, which is expected to hit Grampian, Aberdeen, Angus and
Tayside overnight, and possibly Fife, Lothian and the Borders today.

Following a flurry of wagers and fears of a payout of up to £1 million,
Ladbrokes has cut the odds on there being snow in London on Christmas Day to
3/1.

In October, the firm had chalked up the capital as a 7/1 chance. But the
number of bets placed has caused the price to fall away.

Nick Weinberg, a spokesman for the bookmaker, said: "The country has gone
white Christmas crazy.

"Whenever temperatures plummet we see a surge in weather wagers.

"We'll certainly be lacking festive cheer if snow falls on the big day."

http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/Bookmakers--face-f
estive-payout.4746750.jp

Warmest Regards

Bonzo