The internet campaign that helped rap metal group Rage Against The Machine, snatch the Christmas number one from X Factor winner Joe McElderry may have cost the betting industry more than £1 million, bookmakers say. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news....1m.html
Gamblers could get odds as high as 150-1 at one stage on the US rock band being Christmas number one just a few weeks ago but were slashed in recent weeks as the Facebook campaign took off.
The band topped the chart with their 1992 hit Killing In The Name after the campaign was launched to keep another of Simon Cowell's X Factor acts off the festive top spot.
'It's the biggest Christmas shock of all time, and although it has cost the industry over £1 million, it at least now keeps the interest going, after the X Factor dominance almost killed off the festive chart betting forever,'' said Coral spokesman Gary Burton.
Hot favourite Joe McElderry was 1-12 with Coral when it closed the book, but he has become the first X Factor winner not to top the charts at Christmas since Steve Brookstein in 2004.
Ladbrokes spokesman Nick Weinberg said the news had breathed new life into the chart battle.
"Rage Against The Machine's win was unthinkable just a few weeks ago," he said.
"But the LA band have landed a sensational Christmas gamble for their fans. We simply didn't see it coming.''
William Hill spokesman Rupert Adams added: ''The industry will certainly be paying out a six-figure sum, perhaps seven.
''We were of the opinion that the X Factor was unbeatable, but it looks like we will be proved wrong.
''This is the biggest Christmas number one gamble since Mr Blobby in the last millennium.''
Bookmakers are already offering odds on next year's Christmas number one, with the 2010 X Factor winner 1-5 on.
Gamblers had offered 3-1 that any other act will take top spot.
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