Road to Punter Series: Finding Value in the Own Goal Betting Market

 

Here is the thing about own goal scorer betting: it sounds ridiculous until you realise there is actual data behind it. This is not a random guess. There are patterns. There are trends. And if you pay attention, you can find real value in a market most people ignore.

 

Liz has covered plenty of niche betting angles in GoalBible's Road to Punter Series, but own goals might be the one that gets the most confused looks from friends. Let me walk you through what I have learned.

 

What Is Own Goal Betting and How Does It Work?

 

An own goal happens when a player accidentally puts the ball into their own net. The goal is credited to the opposing team. Simple enough, right?

 

Not quite.

 

Here is where it gets interesting. Own goal scorer betting is a separate market. You are not betting on a specific player to score for their team. You are betting on whether an own goal will happen at all, or in some cases, which player will be the unlucky one.

 

Most major bookmakers offer own goal markets now. The Premier League and Champions League generate hundreds of betting options at any given time, and own goals are part of that menu.

 

But here is the catch. Settlement rules can vary. Most bookmakers follow the Press Association's official ruling on who scored an own goal. If the Press Association says it was a defender, that is what counts. Even if you swore it was the midfielder who deflected it.

 

I learned this the hard way a few seasons back. I had a small stake on an own goal in a match where the ball clearly went in off a defender's shin. The bookmaker initially credited it to a different player. Took three days to sort out. Lesson learned: always check the settlement rules before you place your bet.

 

What Are the Rules for Own Goal Betting in Football?

 

Own goals do not count for most player-specific goalscorer bets. If you back a player to be the first goalscorer and the first goal of the match is an own goal, that bet is not settled yet. The market waits for the next actual goal scored by a player for their own team.

 

However, you can bet on own goals as a standalone market. That is the whole point of this article. And the odds can be attractive, often ranging from 5.00 to 15.00 depending on the match.

 

Here are a few tips I have picked up from tracking this market:

 

1. Check the league first

The German Bundesliga and Dutch Eredivisie tend to produce more own goals than Serie A or Ligue 1. I am not entirely sure why, but the data backs it up. Maybe it is the pace of play. Maybe it is the defensive styles. Either way, it matters.

 

2. Look at the team's form

Teams fighting relegation tend to defend deeper and face more pressure. That increases the chance of a deflection or a panicked clearance going wrong.

 

3. Consider the defensive setup

Two central defenders at the back? The probability of an own goal goes up.

 

4. Check the shots on target

If a team is facing 20 or more shots in a game, the probability of at least one of them deflecting into the net increases. It is just maths at that point.

 

How to Read Own Goal Market Odds?

 

Let me take a 2026/27 Premier League fixture between Brighton and Arsenal as an example. At 1Win, the available odds are:

 

 

When I saw 1.20 on Yes, I stopped. Those odds are short. Really short. The bookmaker clearly thinks an own goal is very likely here.

 

Then I checked Brighton's recent games. João Pedro scored an own goal in the 4-3 loss to Chelsea. Brighton also benefited from an own goal during their 4-0 win over Aston Villa. Two matches, two own goals, one for each side. That is the context behind the price. Brighton keep getting caught in scrappy penalty box moments.

 

So do not read the odds alone. Read them with the match pattern. The price tells you what the bookmaker thinks. The games tell you why.

 

What Own Goal Stats Should You Know Before Betting?

 

The players with the most own goals, the players with the most own goals in a single Premier League match, the percentages of own goals scored in the Premiership, and the total Premier League own goals conceded by team.

 

Which Players Have Scored the Most Own Goals?

 

Richard Dunne holds the record with 10 own goals in his career. That is not a club anyone wants to lead.

 

And then there is Stan Van Den Buys. One hat trick of own goals, back in 1994/95. His Germinal Ekeren side lost 3-2. I still cannot decide if that is impressive or tragic.

 

Let me introduce you to the other players who share this unfortunate record.

 

 

Which Players Have Scored the Most Own Goals in a Single Premier League Match?

 

Jamie Carragher did it in 1999, Michael Proctor in 2003, Jonathan Walters in 2013, and Wout Faes in 2022.

 

 

Which Positions Are Most Likely to Score Own Goals?

 

Defenders. It is not even close.

 

From 2015 to 2019, defenders scored over 71% of own goals in the Premier League. Strikers and midfielders combined for just over 25%. Goalkeepers? A measly 4%. Makes sense really. Defenders are the ones throwing themselves in front of shots and clearing crosses. Sometimes the ball goes the wrong way.

 

Here is the season-by-season breakdown:

 

• 2015: 33 own goals (8.9% of total goals)

• 2016: 38 own goals (10%)

• 2017: 36 own goals (9.6%)

• 2018: 30 own goals (7.9%)

• 2019: 32 own goals (8.4%)

 

That averages out to around 9% per season. Roughly one in every twelve Premier League goals is an own goal. I thought own goals were much rarer. But 9% is significant, and it tells me this market has real potential.

 

Which Teams Have Conceded the Most Own Goals in Premier League History?

 

Based on my research, Everton top the list with 59 own goals conceded in Premier League history. But hold on, they have also been in the league for all 30 seasons. Aston Villa sit second with 50, and they played three fewer campaigns. Do the maths and Villa might actually be the worse offenders on a per-season basis.

 

What surprised me was seeing Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester United in the top ten. These are not teams that spend their time fighting relegation. They are usually the ones applying pressure, not absorbing it. But longevity in the top flight matters. The more seasons you play, the more own goals you accumulate.

 

Then there is Fulham. They have only played 16 seasons but have conceded 39 own goals. That is 2.44 per season, the highest rate of any team in the table. When I saw this, I immediately thought of their defensive record during those years. Fulham have had some truly leaky defences.

 

Blackpool hold the record for most own goals in a single season with five, despite playing only one campaign in the Premier League. Hull City average 3.20 per season across their multiple spells. Nottingham Forest have the lowest rate at 0.80 per season across five campaigns.

 

Of the teams to play every Premier League season, Chelsea have the lowest own goal rate at 1.30 per season.

 

 

Which Betting Markets Do Own Goals Count?

 

 

Which Betting Markets Do Own Goals Not Count?

 

 

Liz's Tips: Read the bookmaker's rules first. Some bookmakers treat own goals differently in niche markets. If you are unsure, stick to match outcome or total goals, where own goals always count.

 

What Are the Best Tips for Betting on Own Goals?

 

Know what counts and what does not, back defenders over anyone else, and look elsewhere if a player has already scored one. That's how you can improve your chances of finding value in the own goal betting market.

 

1. Read the terms before you stake

This varies from bookmaker to bookmaker. Do not assume. Check the terms. I have seen people lose money because they did not realise an own goal would not settle their first goalscorer bet.

 

2. Put defenders at the top of your list

This is not just a hunch. The data backs it up. Over 71% of own goals come from defenders. If you are looking at player-specific own goal markets, start there.

 

3. Stay away from players who have already scored one

Lightning rarely strikes twice. From 148 players who scored an own goal in a season, only nine scored two. That is about 6%. The odds of a repeat are not in your favour.

 

Why Own Goal Betting Is an Overlooked Market

 

Own goal scorer betting is not for everyone. It is niche. It is unpredictable. And it will make your friends question your sanity when you explain it to them.

 

But that is exactly why I like it. The data is there. The patterns are real. And most bettors ignore this market entirely, which means there is value to be found if you do the work.

 

Now if you will excuse me, I have a Premier League match to watch. There is a defender I have my eye on.

 

FAQs

 

1. Do own goals count as goalscorer bets?

No. Own goals do not count in First Goalscorer, Anytime Goalscorer, Last Goalscorer, or Player to Score markets. If the first goal is an own goal, the market usually waits for the next goal scored by a player for their own team.

 

2. Can you cash out an own goal bet?

Yes, if your bookmaker offers cash out. Availability depends on the match situation and bookmaker rules. Cash out may be suspended during goals, penalties, red cards, or VAR reviews.

 

3. What happens if VAR changes an own goal decision?

Bookmakers usually follow the official match result and goalscorer data. If VAR changes an own goal decision before settlement, bets are typically settled according to the updated ruling.

 

4. Can you bet on own goals before and during a match?

Yes. Many bookmakers offer own goal betting before kick-off and through live betting on major football matches. Available markets vary by bookmaker and competition.

 

5. Do own goals count in accumulator bets?

Yes, if the accumulator includes markets where own goals count, such as Match Result, Correct Score, Over/Under Goals, BTTS, and Handicap bets. Own goals do not count in standard goalscorer accumulators.