A first goalscorer bet is a bet on which player will score the opening goal of a football match. It is one of the most popular player markets in the UK because the prices are big, even for star strikers. The catch is that the rules on own goals, substitutes and players who do not start vary between bookmakers, and they decide whether your bet wins, loses or is refunded. This guide explains how first goalscorer bets work and what to check before you place one.
First goalscorer bets in 30 seconds
- You win only if your player scores the first goal of the match.
- Own goals usually do not count. The next player to score normally counts as the first goalscorer instead.
- If your player does not take part at all, stakes are normally refunded.
- Most bookmakers also offer no goalscorer for a 0-0 draw.
How first goalscorer bets work
The bookmaker lists every player in both squads with a price. You pick one, and the bet wins if that player scores the first goal of the match in normal time (90 minutes plus stoppage time). Extra time and penalty shootouts do not normally count. If the match ends 0-0, every player bet loses and only the no goalscorer selection wins.
Prices reflect both how often a player scores and how long they are likely to play. A centre-forward on penalties will be much shorter than a centre-back who only threatens from set pieces.
First goalscorer worked example
Say Arsenal play Everton and you back Bukayo Saka to score the first goal at 5.0 with a £5 stake (prices for illustration).
| What happens | Typical settlement | Return |
|---|---|---|
| Saka scores the opening goal | Win | £25 |
| Another player scores first, Saka scores later | Lose | £0 |
| An Everton defender scores an own goal, then Saka scores | Win at many bookmakers, because own goals are ignored | £25 |
| Saka is not in the squad or does not come on | Void, stake returned | £5 |
| The match ends 0-0 | Lose | £0 |
The own goal row is the one that catches people out. Check your bookmaker’s rules, because not all of them settle it the same way.
First goalscorer rules on substitutes and non-starters
Most UK bookmakers refund first goalscorer bets on players who take no part in the match. Substitutes are where the rules differ:
- At many bookmakers, if your player comes on after the first goal has been scored, the bet loses, because they had no chance to score first.
- Some bookmakers instead make those bets void, or offer a promotion that refunds bets on players who start on the bench.
- A player who starts and is then substituted before the first goal is a loser if someone else scores first.
Team news usually comes out about an hour before kick-off, so waiting for the line-ups removes most of the non-starter risk.
First goalscorer vs anytime and last goalscorer
| Market | Wins if your player… | Price compared with first goalscorer |
|---|---|---|
| First goalscorer | Scores the opening goal | — |
| Anytime goalscorer | Scores at any point in normal time | Much shorter |
| Last goalscorer | Scores the final goal | Similar |
| Scorecast | Scores first and you also get the correct score right | Much bigger |
An anytime goalscorer bet wins far more often, which is why its price is shorter. Many people back a player both first and anytime, or use a bet builder to combine a goalscorer with other markets. Our acca and bet builder free bets guide explains which of these combinations count for offers.
Tips for first goalscorer betting
- Check who takes penalties. A penalty taker gets extra chances to score first.
- Compare prices. Goalscorer prices vary a lot between bookmakers, and a small difference adds up over many bets.
- Read the own goal rule before you bet, not after the match.
- Keep stakes small. Even the favourite to score first wins only a minority of the time, so long losing runs are normal.
If you are new to football markets, our sports betting basics guide explains odds, stakes and returns first.
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First goalscorer FAQs
Usually not. Most UK bookmakers ignore own goals for this market, so the next player to score counts as the first goalscorer. Check your bookmaker’s rules. If they never come on, the bet is normally void. If they come on after the first goal, many bookmakers settle the bet as a loser. Not normally. The market is settled on normal time only unless the bookmaker states otherwise.Do own goals count in first goalscorer betting?
What if my player is a substitute?
Does extra time count for the first goalscorer?
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