White Christmas Odds in The UK 2026 - Will There Be Snow?

As Christmas 2025 creeps closer, punters are already asking the classic question: will the UK wake up to snow this year?

The last few months of the year bring one of the most popular novelty markets: white Christmas betting. Bookmakers offer odds on snowfall at airports and major cities throughout the UK, allowing everyone to wager on this festive weather event.

According to Met Office analyses, the chance of snow on Christmas Day was much lower in the 2010s than in the 1960s, showing just how rare a true White Christmas has become in modern times.

Table of Contents

White Christmas Betting Odds 2026

The odds of a white Christmas vary considerably across the UK. Current regional probabilities for snow on December 25, according to Met Office data, are:

• Western Scotland | 40-45%
• Wales | 12-15%
• North West, South & South West England | 30-35%
• The Midlands | 8-10%

White Christmas odds are listed in the table below: 

Statistical and Historical Context

According to the Met Office, the UK has a true white Christmas roughly once every 6 years. The real postcard stuff with snowbanks in the ground happens still far less often.

Historically, 2010 stands out as the snowiest Christmas of modern times. Snow or sleet was reported at 83% of UK stations at that time, with snow on the ground at 57%. In contrast, between 2018 and 2022, only scattered flakes were seen in northern Scotland and upland Wales.

These long-term averages help explain today's markets: bookmakers price based on both probability and past data. London, for instance, has seen snow on Christmas Day in only 4 of the last 50 years, justifying its double-digit Xmas odds.

White Christmas Betting Sites

Leading white Christmas betting sites such as ThePools, Betfred, 10Bet, and Ladbrokes publish markets as early as September. Most settle bets according to Met Office data; just a single snowflake needs to be recorded at the chosen airport on 25 December. That means even a brief flurry counts as a win.

If you plan on betting on white Christmas events, check settlement rules carefully and use welcome bonuses wisely. Seasonal offers like bet 10 get free bets can often be used on novelty and weather specials, a smart way to play for fun without big stakes.

You'll also find white Christmas markets at foreign betting sites, brands owned by international companies but fully licensed by the UKGC and available to UK punters.

The best betting sites for White Christmas betting are listed below:

How to Choose the Right White Christmas Betting Site

Choosing where to bet on a white Christmas mainly comes down to market range, transparency, and value.

Best bookmakers in the UK open their festive markets early and cover multiple airports across the UK, from Edinburgh to London City. Always check which weather station your bet refers to — most use official Met Office data, meaning snowfall must be recorded exactly at that location.

Clear settlement terms and bonus rules make all the difference. Many welcome offers include novelty markets, giving punters an easy way to join the fun without big stakes.

Example: A bet on Edinburgh Airport at 6/4 wins the moment a single snowflake is officially observed there on 25 December. It doesn't need to settle on the ground. Some bookies also post "UK-wide" specials that pay out if snow is recorded at any major airport.

How to Bet on a White Christmas

Betting on a White Christmas is simple and fun.

Follow these quick steps to place your festive wager and see if snow falls on 25 December.

White Christmas Frequency in the UK – What the Data Shows

Since the 1960s, white Christmases have become much less frequent. Only four years have seen widespread snow across the UK, and 2010 was the last time the country woke up to a truly white Christmas.

Milder winters and shorter cold snaps mean snow is less likely to fall or to stick. As a result, southern cities now open at long white Xmas odds around 10/1 or higher, while even Scotland's snow-prone regions hover near even money.

For bettors, that shift means timing matters: the best value often appears early, before forecasts and prices adjust to December weather models.

UK White Christmas History at a Glance (2020-2024)

The table below summarises the last decade of UK Christmas Day weather, showing how rarely snow has been officially recorded by the Met Office.

Earlier Years (2014-2019)

In the years before 2020, snow on Christmas Day had already become rare, appearing only in scattered locations across the UK.

• 2019–2018: No white Christmas reported nationally.
• 2017–2015: Regional flakes observed, mostly in northern hills.
• 2014: No white Christmas recorded. 

These figures show how rare true White Christmases have become — most recent cases involve light flakes rather than the snowy postcard scenes once common in the mid-20th century.

FAQ

About the Author

Article by:

Teemu Mattila

With a career starting in 2015, Teemu has an extensive background in content writing, collaborating with global companies in Finnish and English. Since 2022, he has been working with Bojoko, focusing on sports betting and casino content, combining his passion for sports and the iGaming industry.

Read more »