UK Bookies Screwed by Paul Weller

How much did YOU lose on the Brits?

By Fred Mills

Here's a news nugget you don't run across every day: bookmakers in Britain are apparently £100,000 as of yesterday in the wake of Paul Weller's surprise win at this week's annual Brit Awards for Best British Solo Male Artist. This comes on the heels of other recent news that all Brit Award gambling was halted by key UK bookie agencies when, according to NME.com, "a flurry of suspicious bets on Weller winning were place dwithin a short space of time of each other" leading up to the awards ceremony.

Speculation is that some gamblers were tipped off in advance about Weller's win, and as a spokesperson for the bookies told reporters, "It was our music department's worst night for years. It's highly unlikely we'll be betting on the Brits again as there is no doubt the results are circulating up to a week before.The fact Paul's interview was pre-recorded suggests people had been tipped off."

Bookies have spokespersons? Who knew!

Speaking of spokespersons, one for the Brits defended their institution, saying, "Every precaution is taken to keep results under lock and key."

Meanwhile, Weller's current whereabouts are unknown. Hopefully he's not passed out in the streets of Prague again....