X Factor Betting Hots Up

According to the bookmakers, X Factor betting is red hot at the moment. As the weeks go by the contestants are jostling for position and the bookies are taking care to ensure their X Factor odds keep pace with events.

Matt Cardle has been the bookies'favourite from the beginning but this week, whilst he gave alacklustre performance, many of his competitors upped their game. The sportsbooks and bookies responded by shortening the odds on several contestants, narrowing Matt's lead and opening up the 'X Factor Winner' market .

Top Four 'X Factor Winner' Odds

Rebecca Ferguson is now at 5/2, having given solid and classy performances and continually receiving praise from the judges. One Direction are listed at 11/4, a reflection of their growing confidence and apparent popularity with the tween and teen market.

Rapping 17 year old, Cher Lloyd has proven to be a controversial figure, acclaimed by the judges but mocked in the media. However, her emotional performance of 'Stay' last Saturday seems to have turned the tide on her public popularity and Ladbrokes now have her at 4/1 to win.

Matt Gets Big Backing

Matt Cardle may have got the bookies' vote from day one but his diminishing lead shows that he's beatable. That's bad news for one particular gambler from Shropshire who placed a £5,000 bet on Matt when his odds to win X Factor were 13/8. With £13,125 at stake he'll be hoping Matt gets back on track next week.

Reality TV Betting on the Rise

Graham Sharpe, William Hill's public relations boss commented on the growing popularity of reality TV betting. "More and more people are having a flutter, it's been our biggest new market in recent years. But..TV has always been attractive to the punters."

William Hill's X Factor betting has some great odds for the next elimination:

• WagnerFiuza-Carilho is at 2/1
• TreyC Cohen is at 5/2 and
• Katie Waissel is at 3/1

Whether you're backing contestants to stay in or be voted out, William Hill and Ladbrokes have some great X Factor bets. Having a wager makes your weekend dose of X Factor even more exciting.