Goalscorer betting explained

Goalscorer bets are among the most popular specials in football. Instead of betting on the result, you bet on a player. The three most common variants:

• Anytime goalscorer: The player scores at least once in normal time.
• First goalscorer: The player scores the first goal of the match. If there is no goal, the bet loses.
• Last goalscorer: The player scores the last goal of the match.

There are also bets on a player scoring two or more goals ("brace") or combinations such as "to score and his team to win".

What counts and what does not

Own goals generally do not count for any player in goalscorer bets. If the first goal is an own goal, most bookmakers count the next regular goal for "first goalscorer". Penalty shoot-outs never count, and extra time usually does not either.

What happens with players who do not play or come on late is important. If the player is not in the squad or does not play at all, many bookmakers void the bet and refund the stake. For "first goalscorer", the rule is often: if the player is only brought on after the first goal, the bet loses. The rules differ by bookmaker and are set out in the betting terms.

High margins

Goalscorer markets have many outcomes and comparatively little turnover. The bookmaker's mark-up is therefore considerably higher than for 1X2 or over/under, often 15 per cent or more across all players. For "first goalscorer" in particular, the odds as a whole are far from fair. If you bet here, check the odds carefully – or treat it as entertainment with a small stake.