Bookmakers are praying Albion don’t win promotion to the Premier League as it will spark a six-figure payout to joyous punters.
Firms could be forced to dig deep into their pockets if Albion clinch promotion on May 27 with one firm admitting it could cost them £50,000 in Brighton and Hove alone.
It could make Seagulls’ supporters up to £3,000 better off after putting their money where their loyalty lay at the start of the season.
And the club’s strong end of season run, coupled with the faltering form of rivals has meant betting on the club has jumped four-fold in the last month.
Ladbrokes told The Argus that an Albion play-off victory would cost them £50,000 locally while Paddy Power said it would cost them £25,000.
Punters who fancied Albion at the start of the season include fans who have staked £300 and £175 with William Hill on the club to win promotion at odds of 11/2.
Should the club win at Wembley, they will bag £1,950 and £1,137.50 respectively while the biggest spender with the same bookmakers in Brighton put on £80 after their promotion odds drifted to 6-1 following the opening day defeat at Hull.
Biggest bets
Coral said it took a bet of £2,500 each way at 16/1 for Albion to win the league which would have ended with a £12,500 pay-out if the club had finished one position higher.
The biggest online bet at Coral from a Brighton address is £500 at 5/1 leaving one fan sweating on a £3,000 total return if Albion go up.
Victor Chandler said they had received a couple of four-figure bets for Albion to win promotion.
A Paddy Power spokesman said: “We’ve seen a bit of a surge in the past month on Brighton achieving promotion.”
A Coral spokeswoman added: “There has been a steady flow of cash for Brighton since the turn of the year, and also for Bolton.”
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