Each Way First Goalscorers vs Anytime Goalscorers at bet365 – What’s The Better Bet?

First or Last Goalscorers? Each Way First Goalscorers? Anytime Goalscorers? Then there’s also Multi Scorers, Scorecast, Wincasts, Anytime Scorecasts, Timecast, 1^st Half Scorecast… It is fair to say there is a great selection of goalscorer betting markets at bet365 Sport.

Anytime goalscorers are mentioned in terms of football, you think of the greats who found fame by finding the back of the net. From modern day stars like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe, Robert Lewandowski, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane and Mo Salah, to former superstars of the game like Brazilian Ronaldo, Romario, Gerd Muller, Alan Shearer, Ferenc Puskas, Ian Rush, Marco Van Basten and of course Pele.

Suffice to say then, that bets involving goals being scored are some of the most popular forms of football bets.

Now while bets such as the First or Last Goalscorer bets are self-explanatory, what is the difference between Anytime Goalscorer and Each Way First Goalscorer bets? They seem to both cover the same outcome (and indeed, they do).

So, in this article, we’ll seek to explain the key differences between the two. Also, we’ll explain how both have a role to play when it comes to backing a goalscorer to score at any point in a game.

You will need to be a member of bet365 to access the types of bet we look at in this post. Bet365 Sport offers both types of goalscorer bet as well as traditional First and Last Goalscorer betting options. These markets are available on a huge number of its soccer fixtures.

However, in this post our attention will be on two seemingly very similar markets; Each Way First Goalscorers and Anytime Goalscorers.

We’ll be looking at the similarities between the two bets. And crucially, we’ll also cover the differences which can radically affect the amount you receive back from each bet type. Even when backing the same player in the same market.

So, let’s begin by clearly defining each of the two similar bets.

What Is an Anytime Goalscorer Bet?

An anytime goalscorer bet is a single bet of one unit stake on the named player scoring a goal at any time in the match stated.

If they score a goal in the game during the 90 minutes plus added time, then the bet is a winner.

Your bet winnings are calculated as the decimal odds of your selection x unit stake.

As a single bet, you receive your winnings if your chosen player does indeed score a goal in the game. If they started in the game and fail to score, then your Anytime Goalscorer bet is a loser.*

What Is an Each Way First Goalscorers Bet?

An Each Way First Goalscorer bet is slightly different, although it covers the same outcome as the Anytime Goalscorer bet in that in generates a return if the player scores a goal in the game.

However, as this is an Each Way bet this means that there are two different outcomes to cover. That is because we are placing this bet on the First Goalscorer market AND then covering the Unlimited Places market with the second part of the bet.

Unlimited places just means that the player can score at any time to win that part the bet.

As with all Each Way bets, we require two unit stakes. Half of the total stake will be placed on the First Goalscorer odds and the second half will be placed on the Unlimited Places part of the bet (which at bet365, is usually paid out at 1/3 of the First Goalscorer price).

This bet generates a return in two ways:

Firstly, if your player scores in the game and it is the first goal, then both parts of the bet pay out. The bet on the First Goalscorer is a winner and the Unlimited Places bet is also a winner.

Secondly, if your player scores in the game but it is not the first goal, then only the Unlimited Places part of the bet pays out. The First Goalscorer part of the bet is a losing bet.

Of course, if the player you back fails to score in the game at all, then both parts of the bet are losers, provided that they started in the game.*

*Void If Player Does Not Start Option

You will notice that we have earmarked a couple of statements with an asterisk that state something along the lines of if your player starts in the game.

That is because at bet365, you can elect to void your Anytime Goalscorer bet and your Each Way First Goalscorer Bet (and have your stake returned) if the player you pick to score does not start the game on the field of play.

Sometimes managers can make changes to a team, and some can be unexpected, which means you could back a player who starts the game on the bench, or even not selected at all.

In these cases, if you ensure the Void If Player Does Not Start box is ticked, this means that your bet will be voided, and your stake returned should your chosen player not begin the game on the field of play.

This is an option for customers as a player can start a game on the bench, come onto the field of play and score a goal, and even score the first goal in a game too.

However, those players are at a distinct disadvantage in both these markets as they will have much less time on the field of play and that time is likely to be later in the game.

As such, this is a very sensible option to tick for either of these bets as you do want your selected player on the field at the start of the game. Simply because it gives you more chance of success with either if the two bets.

The Important Difference Between Each Way First Goalscorer and Anytime Goalscorer Bets

You may feel that there is little difference between these two types of bets. In one way, that is true. The circumstances in which they pay out are similar.

But there is actually a very big difference between the two bets in terms of the potential payout you could receive.

It is this difference that demarcates the boundary between the two bets. And to explain this we will use a real-life example.

We are going to use real odds from bet365 Sport from a game between Manchester City and Arsenal to show you the differences in returns for each bet. We are also going to use the same amount of stake (£20 in total) to ensure fairness for each bet and of course, we’ll back the same player with both bets.

Julian Alvarez started and played 90 minutes in Argentina's 3-1 win over Costa Rica last night! pic.twitter.com/gZEfieMOls

— Man City International 🌐 (@ManCityINT) March 27, 2024

Example – Backing Julian Alvarez (Manchester City)

Argentinean striker Julian Alvarez was 8.50 to be the first goalscorer in the game with Arsenal and his anytime goalscorer odds were set at 3.75.

Anytime Goalscorer Bet Return

Punter A places a £20 bet on Julian Alvarez to score at any time at odds of 3.75.

Alvarez then does go on to score a goal in the game.

Punter A would receive back £20 x 3.75 = £75.00 total return from the bet, a total profit of £55.

Each Way First Goalscorer Bet Return

• Scenario 1 – Alvarez scores and it is the first goal

Punter B places a £10 Each Way bet (£20 total) on Julian Alvarez for the Each Way First Goalscorer bet market at odds of 8.50.

Julian Alvarez goes on to score in the game and it is the first goal.

Punter B earns the following returns for each part of his each way bet:

• First Goalscorer Part – £10 x 8.50 = £85.00
• Unlimited Places Part – £10 x 3.50 = £35.00

Punter B would receive back £120 total return from this scenario, a profit of £100.

• Scenario 2 – Alvarez scores and it is not the first goal

Punter B places a £10 Each Way bet (£20 total) on Julian Alvarez for the Each Way First Goalscorer bet market at odds of 8.50.

Julian Alvarez goes on to score in the game but it is NOT the first goal.

Punter B would earn the following returns from his bet in this scenario:

• First Goalscorer Part – £0 – This part of the bet is a losing selection.
• Unlimited Places Part – £10 x 3.50 = £35.00

Therefore, in this scenario Punter B would earn a £35 return, a profit of £15 on his Each Way First Goalscorer bet.

Of course, in each of the examples for the Anytime Goalscorer and Each Way First Goalscorer bet shown above, if Alvarez fails to score at all, then all bets are losing bets.

Payout Potential vs First Goalscorer Chances

As you can see, the Each Way First Goalscorer option would pay out considerably more if Alvarez scores first. However, he would still generate a small profit even if he didn’t score first but still scored in the game.

However, that profit is not as great as it would have been by simply backing him to score at any time in the match with the Anytime Goalscorer market.

It is crucial with these bets to weigh up the chances of your player scoring the first goal, compared to the different payout potential for each type of bet.

My general rule of thumb is that for shorter odds selections in the first goalscorer market, such as Mbappe, Haaland, Messi, Kane, Ronaldo or Salah, I think the extra value of the Each Way First Goalscorer bet makes sense.

But for longer odds selections, the Anytime Goalscorer market is a better option given its flexibility.

But the beauty of these two bets, is that you can choose to use them in whatever way you like!