A win for England in the Rugby World Cup could cost bookmakers Ladbrokes millions, it said on Thursday.
Loyal England fans' hopes for weekend glory on the rugby field combined with their patriotic backing of F1 rookie Lewis Hamilton could smash all punting records, said David Williams, of Ladbrokes - the biggest bookie in the world.
"We haven't slept a wink since last weekend... It seems the whole country wants to back the rugby team and Lewis," he said in a statement.
The odds on the English team winning what has been billed as the "biggest ever rugby match in betting history" were 80/1 this time last month.
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At 33/1 pre-season, the odds on Hamilton were now just 2/7 to clinch the title.
That's before taking into account a full Premiership weekend and a Scoop 6 jackpot of over ?2 million - the second biggest horse racing jackpot ever.
The queues outside Ladbrokes shops were longer than those during the recent depositors' run on embattled British bank Northern Rock, said Williams.
"...The industry is now sweating on a massive payout," he said.
"If the country is celebrating this weekend, spare a thought for us poor bookies. We'll be shot to pieces and paying out our punters well into the New Year." - Sapa
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