How to Bet on Penalty Shootouts: Markets Explained

Penalty shootout betting is a bet on what happens when a knockout match cannot be decided in normal time. In other words, it covers the markets that only come alive when a tie has to produce a winner. Above all, it rewards one habit: reading the market name before you stake, because most football bets ignore the shootout.

Last updated: November 2026

Quick Answer:

• Most football bets settle on 90 minutes plus stoppage time, so a level match is a draw for 1X2 even if one team wins on penalties.
• “To qualify” covers the shootout: it pays on the team that advances, whatever the 90-minute score was.
• “Method of victory” is a bet on how a team wins: in regular time, in extra time, or on penalties.
• Dedicated shootout markets, such as shootout winner and next penalty scored or missed, usually open live once a shootout is near.
• Shootout goals do not count for goalscorer, over/under, correct score or team-total markets.

Penalty Shootout Betting: The Two Questions a Knockout Match Asks

A knockout match asks two different questions, and bookmakers price them separately. Firstly, what is the score after 90 minutes? Secondly, which team actually goes through? Most football bets settle on the first question only. In contrast, only markets that name qualifying, extra time or penalties cover the second.

In short, if the market name does not mention extra time, penalties or qualifying, assume it settles on 90 minutes. For example, an over 2.5 goals bet has nothing to do with the shootout that follows. Consequently, the first skill in penalty shootout betting is not predicting kicks. It is knowing which of the two questions your market answers.

Penalty Shootout Betting: Why 1X2 Still Settles on 90 Minutes

The 1X2 market, also called the match result or full-time result, settles on the score after 90 minutes plus stoppage time. In other words, if the teams are level at that point, the result is a draw. For example, a tie at 1–1 after 90 minutes still settles as a draw on 1X2, even if Team A wins on penalties. As a result, a bet on Team A to win in 90 minutes loses, even though Team A goes through.

Similarly, the same 90-minute rule covers over/under total goals, both teams to score, correct score, Asian handicap and goalscorer markets. Meanwhile, Draw No Bet follows the same logic. If the match is level after 90 minutes, the bookmaker refunds the stake.

For more on the standard market, read our guide to what 1X2 means in betting.

Penalty Shootout Betting: To Qualify, the Market That Counts the Shootout

“To qualify”, also called “to advance”, “to progress”, “winner of tie” or “to go through”, is a bet on which team advances to the next round. It covers 90 minutes, extra time and a penalty shootout. For example, if the tie is 1–1 after 90 minutes and Team A wins on penalties, a “Team A to qualify” bet wins.

Worked example — to qualify (illustration only): Firstly, take a “to qualify” market at odds of 1.90. Next, stake ₦1,000. As a result, if the team advances, the return is ₦1,900, for a ₦900 profit. In contrast, if the team is eliminated, you lose the ₦1,000 stake. Finally, compare it with 1X2. If the match finishes level after 90 minutes and the team wins on penalties, the 1X2 bet on that team loses, while the “to qualify” bet wins.

Penalty Shootout Betting: Method of Victory

“Method of victory”, also called “winning method”, is a market where you predict how a team wins. In short, the options are typically six: a home or away win in regulation, in extra time, or in a penalty shootout.

Consequently, a “win on penalties” selection loses if the team wins in 90 minutes or in extra time. The match must go to a shootout, and the team must win it.

The Dedicated Shootout Markets

Dedicated shootout markets are separate from full-time and extra-time results. Bookmakers usually offer them live or in-play. The main ones are:

• Shootout winner: which team wins the shootout itself. In other words, this is not the same as “to qualify” or “to lift the trophy” unless the market says so.
• Next penalty scored or missed: a bet on whether the next penalty kick will be scored or missed.
• Total penalties scored, over/under: a bet on whether both teams’ successful kicks together go over or under a line set by the bookmaker.
• Total penalties taken, over/under: a bet on the total number of kicks taken in the shootout, including sudden death. In fact, not every shootout ends after ten kicks.
• First penalty taker / first team to take a penalty: a bet on which team takes the first kick of the shootout.
• Will the match go to penalties? A yes/no bet, available before the match, on whether a shootout decides the match. Similarly, “to go to penalties” is the same idea under a different label.
• Whether sudden death is reached: a bet on whether the shootout goes beyond five kicks each.

Penalty Shootout Betting: Void Rules and What Shootout Goals Do Not Count For

If a match ends before penalties, the bookmaker voids a shootout-winner bet and returns the stake. Similarly, the same principle applies to extra-time markets: they are void if there is no extra time. A “will the match go to penalties” bet is different: it pays out on “no” when the match finishes before penalties.

In short, shootout goals do not count towards goalscorer markets, over/under total goals, correct score or team totals. For example, one major bookmaker’s rule states plainly: “Goals scored in penalty shootouts are not counted.” As a result, a striker who scores only in the shootout has scored no goals for betting purposes.

However, a penalty kick awarded and converted during play does count as a goal for match totals and player markets. Finally, own goals do not count towards betting settlement.

The Shootout Format a Bettor Needs

A match goes to a shootout when it must produce a winner and stays level after normal time and extra time. For the full format, read our guide to what a penalty shootout is. Firstly, each team takes five kicks, alternating, from the penalty mark (11 metres, or 12 yards, from the goal line). Only the opposing goalkeeper defends. Next, the team that scores more after five kicks each wins. In fact, the shootout ends as soon as one team has an insurmountable lead. Then, if the teams are level after five kicks each, the shootout continues in sudden death. Each side takes one kick per round until one team scores and the other misses in the same round.

A Famous Shootout as an Example

The 2022 World Cup final, Argentina against France, is the clearest example of how the markets split. In short, the 90-minute score was 2–2, and the match finished 3–3 after extra time. Argentina won 4–2 on penalties.

As a result, for 1X2 purposes that final settled as a draw. In other words, a “France to win in 90 minutes” bet lost, while an “Argentina to qualify” bet won. But none of the shootout kicks counted towards goalscorer or total-goals markets. Similarly, Italy beat France 5–3 on penalties in the 2006 World Cup final after a 1–1 draw.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is penalty shootout betting?

Penalty shootout betting is a bet on what happens when a knockout match goes to penalties. In short, it covers “to qualify”, “method of victory” and dedicated shootout markets, while standard bets still settle on 90 minutes.

Does a penalty shootout count as a win or a draw for 1X2?

It counts as a draw. In other words, 1X2 settles on the 90-minute score, so a level match is a draw.

Do shootout goals count for over/under or goalscorer bets?

No. For example, shootout goals do not count for over/under, correct score, team totals or goalscorer markets. In contrast, a penalty converted during play does count.

What happens to my bet if there is no shootout?

The bookmaker voids a shootout-winner bet and returns the stake. However, a “will the match go to penalties” bet pays out on “no” when the match finishes before penalties.

Can I bet on who wins the shootout itself?

Yes. In fact, “shootout winner” is a dedicated market, usually offered live once a shootout is near. Meanwhile, it is not the same as “to qualify” unless the market says so.

Conclusion

Penalty shootout betting comes down to one question: does your market cover the shootout? In short, 1X2, over/under, BTTS, correct score and goalscorer bets ignore the shootout. “To qualify”, “method of victory” and the dedicated shootout markets price it in. For more guides, visit our Betting Academy section.

Bet Responsibly: Betting is for adults aged 18 and over only. Betting is entertainment, not a source of income. In short, only stake money you can afford to lose. If betting stops being fun, take a break. Learn more on our Responsible Gambling page.