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We’re used to the absurd PR merry-go-round that is the betting for Christmas No.1, but even by those standards this is a bit odd.
Paddy power has announced today that it is paying out on Activision’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 being this year’s best-selling video game this Christmas.
That’s despite the fact that the game only came out today and that Christmas is still over six weeks away.
At odds of 1/16 this contest is well and truly over,” Paddy Power’s Ken Robertson stated. On its day of release we are happy to crown Call of Duty: MW3 this year’s undisputed champion.”
Note, too, that Paddy power was still taking bets on Final Fantasy Versus XIII taking the crown – a game that isn’t out this year.
The firm pulled a similar move in 2009 when it paid out on Modern Warfare 2 two weeks ahead of Christmas da. The firm should also note that while the COD series has claimed three of the last four Christmas number one titles, World at War failed to grab the accolade in 2008, missing out to FIFA ’09.
