First goalscorer is one of the oldest and most familiar football betting markets. You pick which player will score the first goal in a match. Get it right and the odds, often in the range of 5.0–15.0 for a leading striker, mean the payout is substantial. Miss and the bet is lost entirely — there is no place component or consolation payout.
Market rules: what counts as the first goal
The first goalscorer market settles on the player who is officially credited with the first goal of the match, as determined by the relevant football authority (usually the governing body for the specific competition). Own goals do not count as a scorer — if the first goal is an own goal, it is typically voided for first goalscorer purposes and the next goal determines the winner. Penalty takers are credited as the scorer when a penalty is converted. If the match ends 0–0, all first goalscorer bets are refunded.
Non-starter rules
This is the most important rule to understand before placing a first goalscorer bet in Ireland. If the player you back does not start the match, most bookmakers will void the bet and return your stake. However, some bookmakers have different rules: they may void only if the player does not play at all (not even as a substitute), or they may settle the bet as a loser if the player plays any part in the game, regardless of when they enter. Always read the specific bookmaker’s first goalscorer rules before placing the bet, particularly for players who may be rotation candidates.
Finding value in first goalscorer markets
The first goalscorer market is one of the more difficult to beat systematically, partly because bookmakers set prices with significant margins (the overround across all players in a match can exceed 150%). Value tends to be found on penalty takers in matches where the other side concedes penalties frequently, on set-piece specialists against sides with poor aerial records, and occasionally on wide players in matches where the away team is expected to strike on the counter-attack. High-volume shots-on-target data can help identify players likely to get on the scoresheet, though the first scorer element remains largely unpredictable.
Accumulator potential and variance
First goalscorer accumulators are very high-variance bets. A four-fold accumulator of players priced at 7.0 each returns 2,401.0 for a 1 unit stake — but hitting all four first goalscorers across four matches is extremely rare. This market is best approached as an occasional high-entertainment bet rather than a systematic strategy. 18+ — Gambling Awareness Trust: 1800 753 753.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most bookmakers void your bet and return the stake if your selected player does not start the match. Some bookmakers use different rules, so always check the specific terms before betting. A player who comes on as a substitute is typically treated as a non-starter for void purposes by most Irish bookmakers.
No. Own goals are excluded from first goalscorer markets. If the first goal of the match is an own goal, that goal is disregarded and the bet is settled on the next scored goal. If there are no further goals, all bets are void and stakes are returned.
If the match ends goalless, all first goalscorer bets are void regardless of who you backed. Your stake is returned in full.
Yes. If a player scores from the penalty spot, they are credited as the goalscorer and first goalscorer bets on that player are winners. This makes backing reliable penalty takers worth considering when their team faces sides that concede penalties frequently.
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