Whilst it might sound simple in principle, first goalscorer bets are selections where players place a bet on a player who they think is going to score first in the match. However, in the world of sports betting, there are always pieces of information that you can learn and that can help you understand sports betting even more. Whilst there are plenty of betting options such as the outcome of matches, team bets and player bets, the first goalscorer bets are incredibly fascinating and offer a new way for bettors to place stakes across many popular sports.
Here, we are going to go through all of the different aspects you would need to know about first goalscorer bets, how they work, mistakes to avoid and how you can use these bets throughout your value betting strategy.
First Goalscorer Bets Explained
First Goalscorer bets are quite simple in principle, and they are bets which allow you to predict who is going to score the first goal. Though this bet applies to football, it also applies to other sports such as hockey and rugby, with these being first try or point scorer bets. Almost every bookmaker around offers these types of bets as they are some of the most popular around. You will be provided with a list of players from both teams, and there will typically be odds for both the ‘Anytime’ goalscorer market and the ‘First’ goalscorer market.
There are three different parts to a first goalscorer bet, which you want to take into account:
- Player
- Odds
- Potential Return
Considerations To Make Before Placing A First Goalscorer Bet
Player Selection: Make sure you are up to date with the player’s form. It is important to know if they are scoring early in the match frequently or only towards the tail end of the game. It is also crucial to consider their role in the team and the likelihood of them scoring first or at all. Are they a defensive midfielder who will rarely join the attack or a striker who will be trying to beat the last man?
Team Selection: Understanding how the team is performing as a whole can help you choose your first goalscorer. Are all players on the team chipping in with goals, or is it one player who has a bulk of the goals? Are they a defensive team that soaks up pressure, or do they have a free-flowing attack with goals scored from all over the pitch? These are important questions to think about when conducting research.
Opponent: Whilst it seems obvious to check the opponent’s defensive record, it is also important to check if they have any prolific goal scorers. Despite you choosing a strong option, if their striker scores first before your player does, then the bet is voided, meaning it is important to research all elements of the other team.
How To Place First Goalscorer Bets
Despite these types of bets being quite simple, we are going to walk through how you would go about placing first goalscorer bets and some different bookmakers which allow you to place these types of bets.
We are going to look at Sky Bet first, as this is one of the most popular bookmakers around, and they offer first goalscorer bets throughout football. Just like any other football bet, find the football section, and find the game you want to place your bet on.
To place this bet, simply click on the odds of the player that you think will score first in the right-hand column. We can see that placing the player to score first increases the odds, as it is much harder to predict who will score first compared to who will score in general. If you are interested in learning more about Sky Bet offers, check out our Sky Bet free bets guide.
We are also going to show you how to place a first goalscorer bet at Bet365, another bookmaker that is extremely popular in football betting. In a similar fashion to Sky Bet, find the football section and click on the match that you are betting on.
As we can see, it is very similar to Sky Bet. However, you can also place an each-way first goalscorer bet by ticking the box underneath the selection, and you might be wondering what an each-way first goalscorer bet is. Here, we are going to go through exactly what it means!
What Is A First Goalscorer Each Way Bet?
The first goalscorer bet only covers the first goal; however, if you place an each-way bet on a first goalscorer, this can also cover the second or third goal, depending on how many places are offered. Similar to other each-way bets, your stake is doubled and then split into two separate bets, with one bet being placed on your player scoring the first goal, and the other bet is placed on your player scoring the second or third goal of the match.
These are bets that are not traditionally used in matched betting that require the bet market for an event not to occur to be available. We discuss plenty of other matched betting selections on our matched betting blog.
First Goalscorer Bet Rules
As you could probably guess, there are not many rules surrounding the first goalscorer bet, as the bet is pretty straightforward. However, there are some key features that you must be aware of.
For example, if there are no goals in the game, then your bet will not payout as your player was not the first goalscorer. Another rule to be aware of is own goals. It is a general rule of thumb that own goals do not count towards the first goalscorer bet; however, if the first goal is an own goal, then the bet will continue as normal until there is a proper goal scored. A goal is deemed as an own goal if it is officially declared on the day of the match, with later decisions by committees not affecting the bet settlement.
If your player does not start the game, and a goal is scored when they are off the pitch, then your bet will be voided, as your player was not the first goalscorer in the match. It is also important to remember that most bookmakers limit first goalscorer bets to 90 minutes plus injury time. It is uncommon for the bet to also include extra time, meaning if the match ends as a draw after 90 minutes, your bet will probably be voided.
Mistakes To Avoid With First Goalscorer Bets
Whilst first goalscorer bets are incredibly straightforward and have the potential to award bettors with decent returns, they can incur risks like all forms of sports betting. Let’s look at how you can try to make the most of these bets and how you can avoid mistakes.
Emotion – This is a mistake to avoid in all types of sports betting, as you need to use your head and not your heart when it comes to placing bets. Placing bets on your favourite teams or players is not the best strategy when compared to using research and data.
Research – Speaking of research, always do analysis before placing these bets, as it is incredibly important to know how players are performing, if they are carrying any injuries and if the team is scoring plenty of goals.
Dismissing Players – While it might seem simple to place the best goalscorers first to score, doing this does not always offer good value when looking at the odds available. Have a look at the form of the defenders, midfielders or wingers scoring first and weigh up the value of these bets.
Advantages and Disadvantages of First Goalscorer Bets
There are plenty of reasons why bettors might look to place first goalscorer bets, yet there are also some downfalls to the selection. We are going to look through all of the reasons why first goalscorer bets.
✅There are traditionally higher odds offered for first goalscorer bets compared to anytime goalscorers.
✅Those who have strong knowledge of football and specific players can use this knowledge to make informed decisions.
✅Usually seen across all different types of football matches, ensuring that bettors can place these across a wide range of football games.
❌As you rely on one event, it is an increased risk compared to anytime goalscorer bets, as the prediction is harder.
❌It is incredibly unpredictable, as goals can come from anywhere at any time.
❌Unless you have knowledge that a player is definitely starting, you will have limited time to place your bets on the first goalscorer, as the lineup usually releases an hour before the match.
First Goalscorer Bet FAQS
Whilst first goalscorer bets are quite simple, there are some questions surrounding the bets which are useful to know the answer to if you are looking to place these types of bets.
What does First Goalscorer unlimited places mean?
This is a promotion that some bookmakers offer that allows for first goalscorer bets to be paid out if they score in 90 minutes, no matter if they were the first or last goalscorer. This basically means your bet turns into an ‘Anytime’ goalscorer bet.
What are the variations of First Goalscorer bets?
Whilst there are not many other variations, there are last goalscorer bets which work in a similar manner to first goalscorer bets. These allow you to try and predict the last goalscorer of the match. Similar to first goalscorer bets, own goals typically do not count, and they are usually valid for 90 minutes plus extra time.
Why Are First Goalscorer Bets So Popular?
What makes the first goalscorer bets so popular amongst football fans is how straightforward they are compared to other betting markets. When compared to other types of betting, like handicap betting, it is much more straightforward to place a first goalscorer bet, making them some of the most popular in football betting. If you are interested in learning more about football betting, check out our football betting guide.
