Goalscorer Betting and the Difference Between First, Last and Anytime Markets

Football betting covers hundreds of markets on any given matchday, but few are as direct as goalscorer betting. 

Pick a player, pick a market, first, last, or anytime, and back them to find the net. The match result has no bearing on the outcome, and the margin of victory is irrelevant.

The three markets look similar on the surface but carry meaningfully different odds and suit different situations entirely. 

A heavy favourite in the first goalscorer market returns far more than the same player in the anytime market, and the research that goes into each selection is just as different as the odds. 

All three markets are available across every major football fixture on Jackpot.bet's sportsbook.

What Is Goalscorer Betting

Goalscorer betting is a football market where you back a specific player to score in a match. The team result, the scoreline, and the time of the goal are all secondary, the only thing that matters is whether your selected player gets on the scoresheet in the way the market requires.

Three markets sit under the goalscorer umbrella. Anytime goalscorer requires the player to score at any point during the match. 

The first goalscorer requires them to score the opening goal. The last goalscorer requires them to score the final goal of the game.

A few settlement rules apply across all three. Own goals do not count, if a defender turns the ball into his own net, it does not affect any goalscorer market. All markets settle on 90 minutes plus stoppage time only, the same rule that applies across live betting markets. Extra time does not count.

If a player does not take part in the match at all, bets are voided and stakes are returned.

Anytime Goalscorer

The anytime goalscorer market is the most straightforward of the three. Back a player to score at any point during the match and as long as they find the net before the final whistle, the bet wins. It does not matter when they score or how many goals they score, a single goal at any stage settles it.

Because the player has the full 90 minutes to score, the odds are naturally lower than the first or last goalscorer. 

A striker priced at 3.00 to score anytime might be 7.00 or higher to score first, because the timing condition makes it a significantly harder outcome to land.

Anytime goalscorer is also the most practical market for accumulator betting. Combining three or four in-form strikers across different fixtures compounds the odds while keeping each individual selection grounded in straightforward scoring data rather than timing or sequencing.

First Goalscorer

The first goalscorer market requires your selected player to score the opening goal of the match. A player who scores second, third, or at any other point does not win the bet, only the first goal counts.

The odds are significantly higher than anytime goalscorer because the timing condition makes it a much harder outcome to land, similar to how correct score betting prices individual outcomes across a wide range of possibilities.

Even the most prolific striker in the league scores the first goal in a fraction of their matches, which is why first goalscorer prices on top forwards regularly sit between 5.00 and 10.00.

One settlement rule worth noting, if a player comes on as a substitute after the first goal has already been scored, bets on that player are void and the stake is returned. 

If they are on the pitch from the start or come on before the first goal, the bet stands regardless of whether they score.

Own goals do not count. If the first goal is an own goal, the market moves to the next goal scored.

Last Goalscorer

The last goalscorer market requires your selected player to score the final goal of the match. A player who scores early but is not involved in the last goal does not win the bet, only the player who scores the match's closing goal matters.

The odds sit in a similar range to first goalscorer, but the market is generally considered harder to research. 

The identity of the last goalscorer depends heavily on how the game unfolds, a team chasing the game late on may see a defender push forward and score, while a team protecting a lead will sit deep and rarely threaten. That unpredictability is reflected in the odds.

One practical note, in a match that finishes 1-0, the first goalscorer and the last goalscorer are the same player. 

Backing the same player in both markets on a fixture you expect to be tight and low-scoring is a straightforward way to double the coverage on a single selection, the same fixture type where draw no bet also tends to offer value.

How Goalscorer Odds Work

Goalscorer odds reflect two things, how likely a player is to score, and how likely they are to score in the specific way the market requires.

Anytime goalscorer carries the shortest odds of the three because the condition is the loosest. A striker in good form against a weak defence might be priced at 2.00 to score anytime. 

The same player to score first could be 5.00 or 6.00, and to score last anywhere from 6.00 to 8.00, because those markets require a specific timing condition on top of the goal itself.

Position plays a significant role in how odds are set. Strikers carry the shortest prices across all three markets. Attacking midfielders sit in the middle range. 

Defenders and holding midfielders carry long odds, but those odds can represent genuine value when a set-piece specialist or a player with a strong aerial record is involved in a fixture where dead-ball situations are likely.

The vig in goalscorer markets is higher than in standard match result markets. With dozens of players priced across each fixture, the margin built into each individual price is larger, so the value you identify needs to be clear before committing.

What to Look for Before Placing a Goalscorer Bet

Goalscorer betting rewards player-level research rather than match-level analysis. 

Position and role in the team matters significantly. A striker who leads the line and receives the most penalty box touches is a stronger anytime goalscorer candidate than an attacking midfielder who creates chances for others. 

Set-piece takers are worth specific attention, players responsible for penalties and direct free kicks carry a reliable route to goal that does not depend entirely on open play.

The defensive quality of the opposition shapes the selection too. A forward facing a team that concedes frequently and struggles to keep clean sheets is a more credible goalscorer candidate than the same player facing a side that has conceded twice in their last ten matches.

For the first goalscorer specifically, early substitution risk is worth factoring in. A player known to be carrying a knock or rotating in and out of the starting lineup adds a void risk that does not exist in the anytime market.

Conclusion

Goalscorer betting puts the focus on individual players rather than team results, which makes it one of the most engaging markets in football. 

The right market depends on the player, the fixture, and how much risk the odds justify. Anytime goalscorer suits consistent scorers in open games. 

First and last goalscorer suit specific tactical reads where timing has a clear basis. Explore the full range of goalscorer markets available on Jackpot.bet's sportsbook across every major football fixture.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is anytime goalscorer betting? 

Anytime goalscorer is a market where you back a player to score at any point during the match. As long as they find the net before the final whistle, the bet wins regardless of when the goal is scored.

Do own goals count in goalscorer betting? 

No. Own goals do not count in any goalscorer market. If the first goal of a match is an own goal, the first goalscorer market moves to the next goal scored.

What happens if my selected player does not play? 

If a player does not take part in the match at all, all goalscorer bets on that player are voided and stakes are returned in full.

What is the difference between first and anytime goalscorer odds? 

First goalscorer odds are significantly higher because the timing condition makes it harder to land. A player priced at 2.00 to score anytime might be 5.00 or higher to score first, reflecting how rarely any individual player scores the opening goal.