Christmas is nearly upon us and the UK bookmakers are taking bets on whether there will be a White Christmas. With the big day less than a week away, the Met Office is updating the public on whether they are likely to see snowfall. 

There is a definite chill in the air, but is it likely to snow in your city or town? In this UK White Christmas odds and betting guide, I take a look at how a White Christmas is officially defined, and whether the bookies think you are likely to see one. 

❄️🎄Latest White Christmas odds🎄❄️

Think it might snow in your city? Well, if you’re based in Scotland or the North of England, it certainly looks more likely, whereas those in the South and Wales are much more likely to be left out in the cold. Let’s take a look at the current UK and Ireland White Christmas betting odds for cities across the countries. 

🤔How does White Christmas betting work?

White Christmas betting has become increasingly popular in recent years. While you may have expected it to be a simple yes/no market, there is actually a lot more to it.

Bookmakers will use airports in major cities to determine whether it has been a White Christmas in that city. For example, you would need snow to fall at Cardiff Airport for the bookies to consider it a White Christmas in Cardiff. 

This gives the bookies some control over how the markets play out, as it provides a solid metric. In London, for example, it might snow in Greenwich or Camden, but if there is no snow at Gatwick or City Airport, then a bookie will not pay out.

🌨️What is considered a White Christmas in betting?

UK bookmakers use the Met Office’s official definition of a White Christmas to determine whether or not a bet has won. This definition is surprisingly more liberal than you might have anticipated, with the Met Office determining somewhere to be a White Christmas if it observes a single snowflake falling within the 24 hours of December 25th. 

Surprisingly, this does not mean that the snow is required to stick. So, while you or I might not determine it to have been a White Christmas, the Met Office, and in turn, the bookies might disagree. 

☃️Where in the UK is a White Christmas most likely?

As you can see from the odds I have listed earlier in this White Christmas betting guide, the odds are considerably better for a White Christmas in the North of the UK. Aberdeen is the most Northern of the options, and this has the best odds, with BetVictor pricing at 11/10 for a White Christmas. This is followed by Scotland’s two other major airports, Glasgow and Edinburgh, at 6/4 and 11/10, respectively. 

The further South you go, the longer the odds get, with Cardiff and London out at 7/1 and 10/1, respectively. Anyone who lives in either of these capitals will know just how unpredictable the weather can be there, though, and given that you only need one drop of snow being registered for the bets to come off, I think they could be worth a small flutter. 

You can see similar patterns in Ireland, with Belfast in the North having much better odds at 9/4 with BetVictor than Dublin in the Republic of Ireland at 5/1.

🤓When was the last white Christmas in the UK?

This is where things get a little more technical. According to the Met Office’s description, last year was actually a White Christmas. While I certainly can’t remember seeing a drop of snow last Christmas, it was reported that at least one snowflake was reported at 11% of stations across the country. 

Of course, while this would have seen bets paid out if you had backed snow at any of those destinations, most people don’t personally consider it a White Christmas unless the snow sticks. The last real example of this happening was in 2010, with 40% of UK stations reporting snow settling on the ground. 

🤨White Christmas betting FAQ

Is it legal to bet on a White Christmas in my area?

Yes, White Christmas betting markets are perfectly legal in the UK. However, you might need to request a market for your specific area if it is not available. 

How accurate are White Christmas predictions?

The Met Office acknowledges that it can be extremely difficult to predict whether it is going to be a White Christmas. Their official site states that the most accurate predictions will be available in the week leading up to Christmas, so expect to see shifts in the odds during this period. 

How often does it snow on Christmas?

According to the Met Office’s official definition of a White Christmas, snow falls on December 25th more than half of the time. However, this does not require snow to stick, which is how most people would define a White Christmas.

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