"Record" betting on Christmas number 1

Bookmaker Paddy Power has announced that it has seen a record amount of money wagered on the outcome of this year's Christmas number one videogame.

According to the company around GBP 11,000 has been staked altogether, with EA's Need for Speed ProStreet favourite to come top.

The company started offering odds on Christmas videogame sales in 2003 when it recorded a total of 60 bets amounting to GBP 180, while this year has seen around 650 bets laid.

And the Christmas videogame number one is second only in popularity to the UK number one music single, the company revealed.

The latest top odds on the site are listed below:

8/11: Need for Speed ProStreet
2/1: Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games
5/1: The Simpsons Game
8/1: FIFA Soccer 08
8/1: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
12/1: The Golden Compass
18/1: Super Mario Galaxy
20/1: Assassin's Creed
20/1: High School Musical: Sing It!