Canelo Alvarez vs. William Scull fight: How and where to bet, best sportsbook promotions, top online bonuses

Mexican boxer Canelo Alvarez traditionally fights on Cinco de Mayo weekend. This year, he’s continuing that trend, albeit in a different location. In fact, he’ll head to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to take on William Scull with the undisputed super-middleweight championship on the light. The Canelo vs. Scull fight card begins at 7 p.m. ET, with the ring walk for the main event expected around 11 p.m. ET.

Canelo (62-2-2) will ride a five-fight win streak into this matchup, all via unanimous decision. Scull, a Cuban boxer, is 23-0, with his last win coming over Vladimir Shishkin in October of 2024. The latest Canelo vs. Scull odds from DraftKings Sportsbook list Canelo as the -3000 favorite (risk $3,000 to win $100), with Scull getting +1400. The over/under for total rounds is 9.5.

With the money line being so lopsided, Canelo vs. Scull betting could focus on boxing props. Canelo to win via a knockout of any kind is the favored outcome at -200. Other Canelo vs. Scull props include Canelo winning in Round 1 (+2500) or Scull winning by unanimous decision (+6500).

Bettors looking to place wagers on this fight can utilize various new-user welcome promotions from some of the top sportsbooks, which we break down in more detail below. 

Sportsbook offers

Below is a closer look at the welcome bonuses being offered by the top sportsbooks, including promo codes. 

FanDuel, DraftKings and bet365 are all offering similar “bet and get” promotions, BetMGM and Fanatics are offering bet insurance and Caesars’ offer centers around profit boosts. It’s critical to note once again that these offers are only available to new users who have never signed up with the sportsbook before. Bettors can use these promos to bet on Alvarez vs. Scull or other sports or events. 

Here’s a deep dive into all the promos and sportsbooks before previewing Alvarez vs. Scull. 

FanDuel Sportsbook promo review

FanDuel’s welcome bonus gives new users $250 in bonus bets after placing a winning first wager of at least $5. This offer brings the most return among the three “bet and get” promos listed above, and while you must win your first wager to receive the $250 in bonus bets, there’s no minimum odds requirement for that first bet. Bonus bets enter your account within 72 hours of your first bet settling, though they’re usually credited within just a few hours. 

FanDuel’s app is very highly rated and presents a great user experience. Placing and following a bet are both very easy, as is the process of creating a parlay, which can include its Boost Builder for potentially more profit. The sportsbook has a large selection of betting markets, cash-out and banking options, and it’s arguably the top sportsbook app on the market. And this promo allows new users to create a notable bankroll right off the bat with very little investment. 

DraftKings Sportsbook promo review

DraftKings’ welcome bonus is similar to FanDuel’s in that it gives new users bonus bets after a first bet of at least $5. At DraftKings, however, your first bet doesn’t need to win in order to receive those funds, and they’re credited to your account in the form of eight $25 bonus bet credits, which enter your account within 72 hours of placing that first wager, though they’re often credited instantly. 

DraftKings shares popular bets on its main page and highlights some of the top games and events, as well as profit boosts for parlays. The process of creating a parlay is an easy one that allows users to seamlessly combine different picks. DraftKings also offers pre-made SGPs that show how many users have also wagered on that same parlay. The app allows for users to socialize and share picks with one another through DraftKings Social, and the book also makes it easy to track your betting stats over different time periods. The app can seem a bit crowded at first and take some getting used to, but there’s a lot of information and betting options for users to utilize. It’s also the most available mobile sportsbook in the nation. 

Fanatics Sportsbook promo review

Fanatics got its start as a sports merchandising company, but its ventured into the world of sports betting with its sportsbook, which offers new users up to $1,000 in No Sweat Bets. What this means is when a new user signs up for with Fanatics, the sportsbook insures each of their first bets of the day for their first 10 days with the sportsbook up to $100 each. If any of those bets lose, you receive your stake back in the form of bonus bets up to $100 for each day for a maximum return of $1,000 in bonus bets. 

What makes Fanatics stand out to other sportsbooks is its rewards program. Users earn FanCash by placing wagers, and FanCash can be exchanged for prizes and also be used to purchase merchandise like jerseys and hats through Fanatics. The app is easy to use and features a user’s account balance as well as featured bets of the day on the home page, and odds are front-and-center when you click on a game. The app also features live betting options as well as a variety of profit boosts. Unlike other sportsbooks, Fanatics does not offer its sportsbook on the web, so the app is the only place to go for placing bets through its book.

BetMGM Sportsbook promo review

The BetMGM promo code of CBSSPORTS gives new users a large first-bet insurance offer where you can receive your stake back from your first bet up to $1,500 if it loses. If that wager fails, your account will be credited your stake back in the form of bonus bets. 

BetMGM has great navigation for its app and desktop website with very accessible markets. The process of finding a game/event and placing a bet is an easy one, and the sportsbook offers a wide variety of promotions and rewards for its users. In fact, a BetMGM sportsbook account can be tied to BetMGM Rewards, which can be used for trips to BetMGM casinos and hotels. BetMGM’s odds are pretty in line for industry standards, and you can often find better value on wagers elsewhere, but BetMGM has a wide range of markets and wagers available for users.

Caesars Sportsbook promo review

New users who sign up with Caesars using the promo code CBSDYW and place a first bet of at least $1 receive 100% profit boosts for their next 10 bets. The maximum wager for each profit boost is $25, and the maximum additional winnings from these profit boosts is $2,500. This offer allows new users to maximize their early bets with the sportsbook. 

Caesars includes a variety of sports and markets to bet on as well as different promotional offers. Caesars often offers odds boosts for its users, and you can integrate your sportsbook account with Caesars Rewards. The app offers a user-friendly experience with a clean interface and functionality. 

bet365 Sportsbook promo review

Like FanDuel and DraftKings, bet365’s welcome promo gives new users bonus bets after placing a first bet of at least $5. At $150, bet365 offers less in bonus bets that FanDuel or DraftKings, but it doesn’t require your first bet to win like at FanDuel and the bonus bets can be used however you like unlike DraftKings, which pays them out in $25 bonus bet tokens. To utilize this promotion, sign up with bet365 and use the promo code CBSBET365.

Placing a bet on bet365 is very easy and can often be done with just a single click. The user experience and functionality of the app are simple and easy to use, and the sportsbook offers early payout options that stand out compared to other sportsbooks. While these other sportsbooks are based in the United States, bet365 originated overseas and offers a wide variety of sports and markets to bet on as a result.  

Alvarez vs. Scull preview

Alvarez, 34, has been a star in the boxing world for a long time, having burst onto the scene, having earned his first title at 20 years old. He faces Scull, 32, who is undefeated and most recently defeated Vladimir Shishkin for the then-vacant IBF super-middleweight title. That belt was vacated by Alvarez when he opted not to fight Scull and pursue bouts with other fighters. Alvarez will defend his WBC, WBA, and WBO super-middleweight titles in this fight. This fight is a mandatory defense for Alvarez, and depending on what happens, it could impact his scheduled bout with Terence Crawford later in 2025. 

Scull stands 5-foot-11 to Alvarez’s 5-foot-7.5, and Scull has a reach advantage at 73 inches to Alvarez’s 70.5. Alvarez has finished far more of his fights than Scull has, with 39 of his 62 professional wins coming by knockout, while nine of Scull’s 23 victories have been knockouts. Both fighters are orthodox, meaning they’re right-handed and typically are in a stance with their left hand closer to their opponent. At DraftKings, an Alvarez win by knockout, TKO or disqualification is -200, and an Alvarez win by decision is +160. Scull winning by knockout, TKO or disqualification is +2200 and a Scull win by decision is +3500. A draw for this bout is priced at +3500.

Alvarez has lost just twice in his storied career, and both came via decision. On Thursday, Scull said he wouldn’t be targeting a knockout to defeat Alvarez, but he did challenge his opponent to knock him out, saying, “Does he have a lot of knockouts? That’s fine, but let’s see if he can knock me out as easy as people say.”

Rules and responsible gaming

It’s crucial for all bettors to practice responsible gaming, which is taken very seriously at all sportsbooks. These sportsbooks offer various tools and resources for users, such as wager and time limits, reality checks, voluntary self-exclusion and timeouts, and much more. 

Other responsible gambling resources available include 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537), the National Council for Problem Gambling (NCPG) and Gamblers Anonymous.