Christmas Number 1 Odds 2025
Elvis, The Beatles, Spice Girls, and Ed Sheeran are just some artists who have been at the top of the charts in the UK around Christmas. Competition for places is always fierce, with novelty songs often challenging those from world-renowned names. As such, it is no surprise that Christmas number 1 betting is now available. Many bookies now offer markets for music fans looking to back their favourite performers.
The winner will be announced on the 19th of December, live on Radio 1. If you are not sure where to start with this event, for instance, we have you covered. We will look at the latest Christmas Number 1 odds and give tips on what to examine before placing your wagers. Will Wham prevail, or is there a chance for a dark horse to swoop in at the last minute?
Top Christmas Number 1 Betting Options
Unlike in years gone by, there is a clear favourite in 2025. However, it is still worth looking closely at the Christmas number one odds. It only takes a second for an outsider to cause an upset. The table below shows the leading candidates, along with their average price among bookies.
Latest Christmas Number 1 Odds
| Artist | Odds |
|---|---|
| Kylie Minogue | 1.05 |
| Wham | 6.00 |
| LadBaby | 13.00 |
| Mariah Carey | 15.00 |
| HUNTR/X | 15.00 |
| Taylor Swift | 17.00 |
| Mariah Carey | 17.00 |
| Ed Sheeran | 17.00 |
Xmas Number One Betting Explained
This is one of the many special markets online today, alongside White Christmas betting. Available annually, it may well be new to you. So, we have taken a closer look at some of the key points you should consider before taking any action. You can find them below.
When and where
When betting on the Christmas number one, there are no real restrictions. All artists and song types are eligible, regardless of whether they are linked to the festive period. While other countries also have such a title, the Xmas number 1 odds mentioned on this page are all specific to the UK. Over the years, artists such as Bob the Builder, Rage Against the Machine, and Michael Jackson have been named at the top, demonstrating just how diverse the achievement is.
Who it involves
As mentioned above, there are no restrictions regarding who can be named as number one. Therefore, it is not only UK artists who have a shot. Meanwhile, charitable entries, such as the Military Wives and NHS Choir, often rise close to the top. Over recent years, less high-profile artists have prevailed, including LadBaby, Clean Bandit, and Ben Haenow.
What are the criteria?
The artist named Christmas Number 1 is the one whose song has the most sales and music and video streams. It is worth noting that 100 paid streams are equivalent to 1 sale, compared to 600 free streams. So, you should focus on the singer or band that has already sold a lot of records rather than promoting their songs through advertising.
Timeline of the event
Chart positions in the weeks leading up to the Christmas number one announcement will often indicate which artist will ultimately come out on top. In 2025, the race for Christmas number 1 betting will begin on Thursday, 18th December. The final winner will be announced the following day on Radio 1 in “The Official Chart Show”. Meanwhile, the official result will also be published on the OfficialCharts website at 5:45 pm on the same day.
Latest Christmas Number One betting tips
Who wins the race can depend on a host of factors. For example, if England had won the World Cup in Qatar, Three Lions from Baddiel, Skinner & The Lightning Seeds may have been in contention. Below are our top tips for Christmas number 1 betting.
Wham
Last year, the most iconic Christmas song of all time got an accolade that it had never before achieved. Of course, we refer to “Last Christmas,” and Wham topped the charts on Christmas Day two years in a row. Although an anti-Wham campaign has gone viral this year, it might not be enough to prevent us from witnessing an iconic back-to-back victory streak.
Mariah Carey
In 2018, the iconic song set a record for the most streams on Spotify in a single day. As you can imagine, it is one of the few songs that can battle Wham for first place. Even though the odds appear very high, All I Want for Christmas is You can cause an upset and also give you a nice payday at the same time. However, make sure to keep your stakes small.
LadBaby
The YouTuber's couple comedy hit singles have featured in all the betting markets of the last few years, winning consecutive awards for different songs from 2018 to 2022. The 2021 title went to LadBaby featuring Elton John, so there can always be value from betting on the contender at the given odds. Despite not having released a new song this year, previous titles are still up for betting.
How to Bet on Christmas Number One
If you are new to this market, there are some important factors to consider first. Your chances of making a profit through Christmas number 1 betting can be boosted by evaluating the following points, as it happens with specific factors in Boxing Day betting.
- Previous ranking: It is important to look at the position an artist reaches in the official charts in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Often, the ultimate winner will be at number one for several weeks, not just over Christmas itself.
- Release date: Artists may strategically release songs and music videos. If a highly anticipated track only comes out in the final days before Christmas, the hype could push it toward the No. 1 spot.
- Singer's hype: While not as important as it once was, it is also essential to look at the artist's stature. LadBaby has become a well-known name over the past few years. However, Wham and Mariah Carey are the more established artists in the running this year.
- Philanthropic nature: Christmas number-one betting can also be influenced by the message behind songs. For example, last year, Tyson Fury sought to raise mental health awareness, while LadBaby sought to raise money for Food Aid. Over the last decade, six Christmas number 1s have come from artists hoping to raise money and awareness for particular causes.
List of previous winners
| Year | Artist | Weeks at No 1 |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 -2024 | Wham! | 11 |
| 2022 | LadBaby | 1 |
| 2021 | LadBaby ft Ed Sheeran & Elton John | 1 |
| 2020 | LadBaby | 1 |
| 2019 | LadBaby | 1 |
| 2018 | LadBaby | 1 |
| 2017 | Ed Sheeran | 6 |
| 2016 | Clean Bandit ft. Sean Paul & Anne-Marie | 9 |
| 2015 | Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Choir | 1 |
| 2014 | Ben Haenow | 1 |
OUR VERDICT Are the odds for a Xmas Number 1 worth it?
While not always offering the best value odds, those in the know when it comes to music will still find betting on the odds for Xmas number 1 worthwhile. If you think Kylie Minogue has it in the bag at 1.05, then this bet should earn you a guaranteed 5% profit. This market will also appeal to players looking to take a break from football or horse racing.
Whether you are new or simply looking for an alternative to traditional sports betting, this particular market is also available with an increasing number of bookies using the request a bet service. In this case, you can try and match any prop you might think about on sites like Betfair. Using our online bookmakers' rating for Christmas No. 1 betting, we have listed the best sites below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unlike sports and other special markets, there is only one possible bet when it comes to Christmas number 1 markets. You can bet on which artist will top the charts over Christmas based on sales and streams.
With music sales peaking over the festive period, the UK Xmas number 1 is a much-coveted prize. The UK’s Christmas number 1 will not be announced until just before the big day, but so far, it looks like Kylie Minogue will win the 2025 edittion.
No. However, many of the leading bookies in the UK now do so. As a result, punters have various betting sites to choose from when it comes to Christmas number 1 betting.
Absolutely. Christmas number one betting is now available with many bookies in the UK. Odds differ between them, as do available promotions, payment methods and additional features.
The official Christmas number one will be announced on December 19th, taking place live on Radio 1’s Official Chart Show. Sales and streams recorded from the 12th to the 18th of December will determine the winner.
Having a song which is pretty much synonymous with the word Christmas, it should come as no surprise that it is Wham won the award in 2023 and 2024.
LadBaby hold the record for the most Christmas number 1’s. The Youtube duo have won five times, with the last one being in 2022. LadBaby also have five consecutive Christmas number 1’s, a record.
