What Is a Next Goalscorer Bet? Meaning, Rules and Payouts

What is a next goalscorer bet? It is a live, in-play wager on the player who scores the next goal in a match that has already started. For example, if the score stands at 1-0 in the 60th minute, you pick the player you think will make it 2-0 or 1-1.

On the other hand, the market rewards readers of the game rather than readers of the form guide. Firstly, this guide explains the meaning and the payout. Secondly, it covers the rules that catch people out. Finally, it compares the market with first, anytime and last goalscorer.

Last updated: November 2026

Quick Answer

• A next goalscorer bet wins if your named player scores the next goal after you place the bet.
• You can only place it while the match is in play, and the market resets after every goal.
• If no more goals are scored, the “No goalscorer” selection wins.
• A substitute’s goal counts if the player comes on before the next goal, and own goals do not count.
• If your player takes no part in the match, the bookmaker voids the bet and refunds your stake.

What Is a Next Goalscorer Bet?

A next goalscorer bet asks one question: who scores next? The goal can come from open play, from a header, from a penalty, or from a deflection. In short, the method does not matter.

By contrast with a pre-match market, only goals scored after you place the bet can win it. For example, a striker who scored in the 20th minute brings you nothing if you back him in the 60th minute, because that goal came before your bet. As a result, the market suits a match you are watching.

The market covers both teams, so you can back a player from either side. Similarly, most bookmakers list a “No goalscorer” selection, which wins if the score stays as it is until the final whistle.

How Next Goalscorer Odds Move Live

The odds move with the match, because the bookmaker reprices the market after every attack, substitution and booking. For example, a striker priced at 5.00 in the 60th minute might shorten to 3.50 ten minutes later if his team wins three corners in a row. As a result, the price you see is only good for a short window.

A red card moves the odds even more. For instance, if a defender is sent off, the odds on the other team’s attackers shorten at once, while the odds on the team down to ten men lengthen.

That movement is the heart of this market, and it is also its main risk. Above all, decide your stake before you open the market, and do not chase a price that has already gone. For that reason, treat this as a live bet: fast, watchable, and easy to rush.

What Is a Next Goalscorer Bet Payout?

The payout is simple: stake multiplied by the odds. If you stake ₦1,000 at 4.00 and your player scores the next goal, your return is ₦4,000, so your profit is ₦3,000. If another player scores next, or if no more goals come, you lose the ₦1,000.

Here is the same payout at a few common prices, all for a ₦500 stake:

Odds	Return	Profit
2.00	₦1,000	₦500
3.00	₦1,500	₦1,000
4.00	₦2,000	₦1,500
6.00	₦3,000	₦2,500

To work out the implied chance, divide 1 by the odds. For instance, 1 divided by 4.00 gives 0.25, which is 25.0%. On the other hand, remember that odds include the bookmaker’s margin, so the true chance sits slightly below the implied figure.

The “No goalscorer” selection pays out in the same way: a ₦500 stake at 6.00 returns ₦3,000, for a profit of ₦2,500, if the match ends with no more goals.

What Is a Next Goalscorer Bet: The Rules on Substitutes, Own Goals and Voids

The rules are where this market catches people out. Firstly, a substitute’s goals count: any player who has been on the field before the next goal is scored counts as a runner. For example, a forward who comes on in the 70th minute and scores in the 75th minute wins the bet.

Secondly, a player who leaves the field without scoring loses the bet, if you placed the bet while he was still on the pitch. For instance, if you back a striker in the 55th minute and the manager takes him off in the 65th minute, your bet loses even if his team scores in the 80th minute. That said, if you place a bet on a player after he has already left the field, the bookmaker voids the bet instead.

Thirdly, own goals do not count. For example, if the next goal is an own goal, the bookmaker ignores it and settles the market on the scorer of the following goal. If no further goal comes from a named player, the “No goalscorer” selection wins.

Finally, a player who was never quoted in the list can still win: if an unlisted defender scores the next goal, the bookmaker counts him as the winner.

What Happens If Your Player Never Comes On?

If your player does not take part in the match at all, the bookmaker voids the bet and refunds your stake. In a multiple, the bookmaker voids the leg and reprices the bet on the remaining selections.

That said, the void only applies to a player who never plays. For instance, a substitute who comes on for the last five minutes and does not score loses the bet. In other words, never playing brings a refund, while playing without scoring brings a loss.

What Is a Next Goalscorer Bet Compared With First Goalscorer?

The closest market is first goalscorer. The difference is timing: first goalscorer needs the opening goal, while a next goalscorer bet needs the next goal from the moment you place it. As a result, first goalscorer is a pre-match market, and next goalscorer is a live market.

There is also a difference in the substitute rule: a first-goalscorer bet voids if your player comes on after the first goal, while a next-goalscorer bet has no such problem. For the full comparison, read our guide to what a first goalscorer bet is.

What Is a Next Goalscorer Bet Compared With Anytime and Last Goalscorer?

Anytime and last goalscorer both look at the whole match, while a next goalscorer bet looks only at the next goal. For example, an anytime bet wins if your player scores at any point in the 90 minutes plus stoppage time. In other words, an anytime pick can wait all match for its goal, while a next-goalscorer pick has only until the next goal goes in.

Last goalscorer needs the final goal of the match, so it stays live until the whistle. By contrast, a next-goalscorer bet settles on the very next goal, and then the market reopens. As a result, next goalscorer is the fastest of the three to settle.

Here is the same striker at illustrative odds in each market, all for a ₦500 stake:

Market	What you need	Odds	₦500 stake return
First goalscorer	The opening goal	6.00	₦3,000
Next goalscorer	The next goal	4.00	₦2,000
Anytime goalscorer	Any goal	2.50	₦1,250
Last goalscorer	The final goal	6.00	₦3,000

In other words, anytime pays the least because it is the easiest to win: 2.50 implies 40.0%, while 6.00 implies 16.7%. For the full picture, read our guides to what an anytime goalscorer bet is and what a last goalscorer bet is.

How to Place a Next Goalscorer Bet Step by Step

Placing the bet takes less than a minute. Firstly, open a match that has already kicked off and find the goalscorer section in the live markets. Secondly, check the score, the time, and the team sheet, so you back a player who is on the pitch. Thirdly, pick your player and check the odds.

Fourthly, enter your stake and confirm the bet, then check the confirmation on your betting slip. Finally, watch the match: the bet settles on the next goal, or on the final whistle if no more goals come.

How to Pick a Next Goalscorer

Picking starts with the match picture, not with the player’s name. For example, a striker whose team has just won two corners and hit the post is a stronger pick than the same striker in a match his team is chasing. Next, look at who is on the pitch: a fresh substitute often carries more threat than a tired striker.

Also consider set pieces and penalties: a player on penalty duty has an extra route to the next goal. Similarly, a team that has just made an attacking substitution is more likely to score next than a team that has just brought on a defender. Above all, avoid picking on reputation alone.

Next Goalscorer Betting Under Nigerian Law

Meanwhile, betting in Nigeria is for adults only — 18+ only. Regulation is state-led: the Supreme Court nullified the National Lottery Act 2005 on 22 November 2024, and the National Lottery Regulatory Commission framework applies only in the Federal Capital Territory. As a result, a bettor should check that a bookmaker holds a licence in the bettor’s own state, rather than assuming a site is “licensed by the NLRC” as a general rule. In addition, licensed bookmakers ask for identity checks, usually a Bank Verification Number or National Identity Number, before paying out winnings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a next goalscorer bet for a substitute?

It is the same bet as for a starter: a substitute’s goal counts in full if the player comes on before the next goal.

Can I place a next goalscorer bet before kick-off?

No. The market only exists while the match is in play. Before kick-off, the nearest market is first goalscorer.

Does a next goalscorer bet include extra time?

That depends on your bookmaker. Most bookmakers settle on 90 minutes plus stoppage time, while a small number include extra time, so check the market rules first.

What happens if the next goal is an own goal?

The bookmaker ignores the own goal and settles on the scorer of the following goal. If no further goal comes from a named player, the “No goalscorer” selection wins.

Can I cash out a next goalscorer bet?

That depends on your bookmaker: some offer cash out on goalscorer markets, while others do not offer it on this market at all.

What happens if my player is sent off before the next goal?

The bet loses. A player who leaves the field without scoring cannot score the next goal, so the bookmaker settles the bet as a loser.

The Bottom Line

What is a next goalscorer bet, in one line? A live, in-play wager on the player who scores the next goal, from the moment you place the bet. It is the fastest goalscorer market, and it resets after every goal. In short, watch the match, pick a player who is on the pitch, and remember the void rule: no appearance means a refund, but an appearance without a goal means a loss.

Bet Responsibly: Betting is for adults aged 18+ only. Treat it as entertainment, not as a way to make money, and only stake what you can afford to lose. If betting stops being fun, stop. For help and guidance, visit our Responsible Gambling page.