Do Own Goals Count in Betting? Rules for Football Wagers Explained
Understanding how own goals affect football bets matters more than many realise. Questions often arise about how these moments influence different markets, and the answers are not always obvious at first glance.
This guide explains how own goals are treated across popular football markets, including match result, correct score, total goals, team goal totals and goalscorer bets. It also covers accumulators, void bets and how bookmakers define own goals in their rules.
You’ll find clear examples and notes on void bets and abandoned matches, so everything is clear before you stake anything.
Do Own Goals Count In Match Result Bets?
In standard match result bets, also known as 1X2 or win-draw-win, own goals are included in the final score. If a player accidentally scores against their own team, that goal is credited to the opponent and counts towards the result.
For example, if Team A concedes via an own goal against Team B, Team B’s tally increases by one. The bet is then settled on the official final score that includes any own goals.
This treatment is the default across the industry, so there is nothing extra to select. As we move into score-based markets, the same principle largely applies, with one notable exception for goalscorer bets.
How Own Goals Affect Correct Score And Total Goals Markets
In correct score markets, the result is settled on the official scoreline, and that includes own goals. If a match finishes 2-1 with one of those being an own goal, the correct score remains 2-1 for settlement.
For total goals markets, such as over or under 2.5, every goal counted in the match total is included, own goals and all. Two regular goals plus one own goal means three goals in total for the bet.
The only area where own goals are excluded is when bets are tied to a named player. We cover that next, as goalscorer markets have their own set of rules.
Do Own Goals Count For Team Goal Totals?
Team goal totals focus on how many goals a specific team scores. Here, an own goal is attributed to the opposing side for settlement. If Team A puts the ball into their own net, it increases Team B’s total for betting purposes, not Team A’s.
So, if you backed Team B to score over 1.5 goals and Team A scored one own goal plus Team B added one of their own, Team B’s total would be two and the bet would win. Conversely, if Team B scored an own goal, it would not add to Team B’s count in this market.
With that distinction in mind, goalscorer bets take a different approach again.
Do Own Goals Count For First Or Last Goalscorer Bets?
In first and last goalscorer markets, own goals do not count towards any named player. If the first strike in a match is an own goal, the market remains open until a player is credited with a goal in their name. The same applies at the end of the match for the last goalscorer.
If a game features only own goals, bets on named players in first or last goalscorer markets are usually settled as losing, unless the terms say otherwise. Where a “no goalscorer” option is offered, that selection would typically be the winner in such a scenario.
Do Own Goals Count For Anytime Goalscorer Bets?
Anytime goalscorer markets only settle on goals officially awarded to the named player. Own goals never count towards that player’s tally. For a selection to win, the chosen player must score a goal credited to them at any time in the match.
What Happens To Accumulators And Multiple-Bet Tickets If An Own Goal Occurs?
Accumulators and multiples bundle several selections together, and each leg is settled according to the rules of its market. If an own goal occurs in one match, it is treated in that leg the same way it would be in a single bet. For example, it counts in match result, correct score and total goals, but not for goalscorer bets.
If a leg is made void due to something like postponement or abandonment, bookmakers generally remove that leg and settle the remaining selections at the adjusted odds. The presence of an own goal does not, on its own, void a bet.
How Bookmakers Define Own Goals In Their Betting Rules
Bookmakers publish detailed rules explaining how own goals are handled in each market. These can be found in the help or terms sections on their sites and apps, and they outline how settlement works when unusual situations arise.
Checking these rules before placing a bet helps avoid surprises, especially in more specific markets like goalscorers or time-related bets.
Examples Of Common Own Goal Clauses
Typical clauses include that:
- Goalscorer bets only count goals credited to the named player, with own goals excluded.
- For team totals, match result and total goals, own goals are credited to the opponent for settlement.
- If a match features only own goals, first or last goalscorer markets are often settled as losing for named players unless otherwise stated, while any “no goalscorer” option would usually be settled as the winner.
If you are comparing markets across bookmakers, it is worth checking these points in the rules, as wording and edge cases can differ slightly.
Void Bets, Abandonments And Own Goals
A bet is void when the event it relates to fails to meet the settlement conditions in the bookmaker’s rules. In football, this commonly happens if a match is abandoned or does not reach the required number of minutes for a market to stand.
If a match stops early after an own goal has been scored, whether a bet stands depends on the market and on the time played. Many bookmakers require the full 90 minutes for match result and correct score bets, while some total goals markets may specify a minimum, such as 60 or 80 minutes. If the threshold is not met, affected bets are usually void and stakes are returned.
Player and time-specific bets, including goalscorers or intervals, often have their own criteria. If a wager is made void, any own goal or other event that occurred before abandonment does not count towards that bet’s settlement.
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**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.
