Betting on the goalscorers has long been one of the most popular markets in football betting as they can offer some of the bookies most competitive odds.
Goalscorer betting refers to a type of football bet based around predicting which players will score the goals in a particular match. This can be on the first or last goalscorers, an anytime goalscorer and multiple goalscorers such as a player to score a brace (2 goals) or a hat-trick (3 goals).
On this page we will take a closer look at goalscorer betting, the different types of bet along with some basic tips and strategies.
How does goalscorer football betting work?
Goalscorer betting works in much the same way as any other type of bet. You simply make your selections, set your bet type and stake and confirm your bet.
You can bet on goalscorer bets as single bets which is a common way to play but you can also include goalscorer selections in multiple / combination bets such as accumulators and yankees which can deliver nice returns for finding multiple goalscorers.
If your chosen player does not participate in the game, bets on that player are cancelled and the stake is reimbursed. Own goals and extra time do not count.
Is goalscorer a good bet?
Betting on goalscorers has grown in popularity among punters in recent years as it provides an intriguing bet and is a good alternative in matches where it’s difficult to call the winner.
Everyone likes seeing the goals fly in and having a few quid on your favourite player to score can add an extra bit of interest when watching a live match. Following strikers in form can pay dividends as these confident players can often go on runs where they can score in successive matches.
Goalscorer betting tips & strategies
While some punters simply like to bet on their favourite players others look to scoring ratios, expected goals, team news, formations and other stats when deciding which players to pick.
It’s always a good idea to keep an eye on the team news as kick off approaches as you will need to pick a player who will definitely start the game. If your player ends up on the bench but comes on later in the game before a goal is scored then your bet becomes live despite the fact your player may only get 10 or 20 minutes to find the net.
Similarly avoid players who are regularly substituted or prone to injury. Look for in-form players who are also penalty takers or free kick specialists.
Types of goalscorer bets
There are three main types of goalscorer markets for betting on players to score first, last or anytime in the match.
First Goalscorer
Guessing the first goalscorer is always an interesting side bet to consider. It’s a bet that can be over very quickly but of course the odds are much bigger than for an anytime scorer. If your player is on the bench and comes on after the first goal has been scored then your bet is deemed void and stakes refunded.
Bore Draw Tip - If you fancy a match ending in a 0-0 goalless draw, instead than betting 0-0 in the correct score market, instead bet in ‘No Goalscorer’ in the First Goalscorer market. This is because if an own goal is scored (and it is the game’s only goal), you will still win because own goals do not count in First Goalscorer, but the prices are usually the same.
Last Goalscorer
This market works in exactly the same way as the First Goalscorer market and has similar odds but instead asks you to predict the scorer of the game’s final goal. With this bet you have to wait until the final whistle to see if your bet is a winner so it can be a nail biting bet.
Anytime Goalscorer
This is the most popular goalscorer bet as it does not matter when your player scores just as long as they do. Of course the betting odds on offer are going to be much smaller than if betting on the first or last goalscorer but it does give you the comfort of the full 90 minutes (plus stoppage time) for your bet to win.
Player to Score 2+ Goals
Many bookmakers will also offer odds on players to score a brace of goals. This can be useful in matches where there is a gulf in class and there is a possibility of a rout. If your chosen player’s odds are too short to score anytime you can get bigger odds by backing them to score two or more goals.
Player to Score a Hat-Trick
Hat-tricks don’t happen too often so you can often get decent odds on a player scoring 3+ goals in a match. Odds usually start around the 25/1 or 33/1 mark.
Type Of Goal
There are also special markets for players to score by a certain method, for example with a shot, header, free kick or penalty which offer bigger odds.
Combination Goalscorer Betting
The best online bookmakers will also offer combination bets involving goalscorers such as the Wincast or Anytime Wincast which is a bet combining the first or anytime scorer with the winning team.
There is also the Scorecast or Anytime Scorecast where you have to predict the first or anytime goalscorer with the correct score and the Timecast where you have to pick the first goalscorer and time of the first goal, usually in 10 minute segments.
Top Goalscorer Bets (Ante post)
In addition to goalscorer betting on individual matches you can also bet on who will be the top scorers overall in leagues or competitions. For example you can bet on the overall top scorer in the Premier League or World Cup which is often referred to as the Golden Boot.
This is a good bet in that it gives you a long term interest over several weeks or months but the downside is that your funds will also be tied up for a long time. You can also bet each way with three or sometimes four paying places available.
How do I place a goalscorer bet?
Head to the football section of your favourite bookmaker and navigate to your chosen match. The goalscorer options are usually available under the main betting markets but sometimes may be easily found under a Players or Goals tab.
Are there any goalscorer special offers?
Yes! Betfred offers their long standing “Double Delight” and “Hat-Trick Heaven” promotion on selected matches for goalscorer betting punters.
This popular promotion will double the odds if your first goalscorer bet goes on to score two goals and trebles the odds if they net a hat-trick.
This offer only applies to pre-match singles placed on the specified Double Delight or Hat-Trick Heaven first goalscorer coupon. All winnings are paid out in real cash and credited as a bonus along with the settlement of your first goalscorer bet. Bets placed using free bets do not count.
How do I calculate my goalscorer bet winnings?
You can work out your goalscorer bet winnings using an online bet calculator tool in the same way you would calculate any bet. Just enter the outcomes of the selection(s) (win or lose), odds, stake and the calculator will do the rest.
