Paddy Power pays out early on Xmas No 1

Paddy Power, Ireland's largest bookmaker, has announced it is paying out early on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 being this year's Christmas number one.

Although the bookie saw a late surge of bets for FIFA 10, which resulted in the game's odds plummeting from 10/1 to 9/4 to make it second favourite, it decided MW2 had built up too much of a lead.

"Three out of every four bets placed on the Christmas number one videogame were backing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. With this level of support I don't think we're taking too much of a risk by paying out early," said Paddy Power.

The bookie will be paying out over EUR 12,000 to backers of MW2. Odds as high as 2/1 had been offered back in September.

The closing odds were as follows:

• 2/7 Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
• 9/4 FIFA 10
• 6/1 Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Winter Games
• 6/1 Wii Sports Resort
• 10/1 Assassin's Creed II
• 14/1 New Super Mario Bros Wii
• 25/1 Wii Fit Plus
• 33/1 HALO 3: ODST
• 33/1 Need For Speed: Shift
• 33/1 DJ Hero
• 33/1 Football Manager 2010
• 50/1 Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
• 66/1 James Cameron's Avatar: The Game
• 66/1 PES 2010: Pro Evolution Soccer
• 80/1 Planet 51: The Game
• 80/1 Guitar Hero 5