If Scotland has a white Christmas a lot of bookies will be singing the blues.

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A record number of Scots are wagering there will be a white Christmas and there's snow in the forecast, a combination that's giving bookies the chills.

The forecast is for freezing weather and possible snow but Edinburgh, preparing for its annual Hogmanayh celebration, does not seem in line for more gale force winds that canceled last year's street party, the Scotsman says.

Snow is predicted in parts of Scotland throughout the festive period. William Hill bookmakers said it had taken a record of almost 250,000 pounds ($481,075) in bets on a white Christmas.

A company spokesman, Graham Sharpe, said: "We have been taking white Christmas bets for over 30 years but never before have we seen such betting interest. The downside for us, though, is that if it does snow we could be looking at a payout approaching 500,000 ($962,150)."