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08th Feb 2016

Revealed: The huge sum of money the bookies stand to lose if Leicester win the title

They could be stung for a f**k load of money...

Ben Kenyon

Nobody expected Leicester City to do so well this year…not even the bookies.

Claudio Ranieri’s men were relegation favourites at the start of the season after an incredible string of results kept them in the league last time out.

But after a remarkable season Ranieri’s side are six points clear at the top of the Premier League with just 13 games left.

The Foxes are top of the form tables and their incredible title charge shows no signs of derailing after putting rivals Man City to the sword in their own back yard.

Following that 3-1 win, there will be a few bookmakers starting to sweat that Leicester might actually win it.

Not least Sky Bet who, according to SBC News, could lose more than £5m from bets made in the first part of the season.

After beating City, Leicester were installed as favourites to win the league – but you could still get odds of 1000/1 in November.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 06: Riyad Mahrez (2nd R) of Leicester City celebrates scoring his team's second goal with his team mates Shinji Okazaki (1st R), Danny Drinkwater (2nd L) and Jamie Vardy (1st L) during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Leicester City at the Etihad Stadium on February 6, 2016 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

One fan stuck £40 on Ranieri’s side at 5000/1 at the start of the season and could win £200,000 if they do the business.

In fact just 20 Sky Bet customers would win a combined £1m if Leicester actually see it through.

“It’s great to see a Leicester City supporter having a speculative bet in August that is now a serious runner in February,” said Sandro Di Michele, Head of PR at Sky Bet.

“If Claudio Ranieri’s team did the unthinkable it would be a terrible result for us, as we currently stand to lose over £5m if Leicester win the league.

“However it would be the greatest ever achievement in the history of the Premier League and who wouldn’t want to see that?”