Where to bet and the biggest promos
Sunday Night Football finally hit Baltimore, and so did a wave of offers for anyone betting the Ravens vs Bills odds. The matchup kicked off Week 1 at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC from M&T Bank Stadium, and sportsbooks rolled out some of their best early-season deals for new users, especially in Maryland.
DraftKings set the pace with a “bet $5, get $300 in bonus bets” promo, plus a $200 discount on NFL Sunday Ticket. The $300 landed as twelve $25 bonus bets after you placed the qualifying $5 wager, and you had seven days to use them. For anyone building a football routine, the Ticket discount added real value on top of the bonus bets.
bet365 Maryland pushed a state-specific offer tied to a TOPACTION code—marketed as a $300 bet-and-get bonus for new users right in the Ravens’ backyard. If you live in Maryland and want fast payouts and broad markets, bet365’s local angle was hard to miss on kickoff day.
ESPN BET came with a simple bet $10, get $100 in bonus bets welcome deal via code DIME, and bundled ESPN+ access. For fans who track live lines and prop markets while streaming, the pairing made sense: you get the bets and the platform.
FanDuel stuck with a familiar format: bet $5, get $300 if your first bet wins. It’s high-upside if you’re confident in your first wager, less so if you want guaranteed bonus bets regardless of the result. That difference—win-based unlocks versus guaranteed bet-and-get—matters if you’re choosing between apps.
Caesars took a different route with 20 profit boost tokens at 100% after a qualifying wager of $1 or more. Boosts are flexible. You can apply them to spreads, totals, or player props across the slate, not just one game. If you like to bet smaller amounts with juiced payouts, boosts are useful across the first few weeks.
BetMGM leaned into first-bet insurance: up to $1,500 back in bonus bets if your opening wager loses. That’s a safety net for bigger first-time swings. In New Jersey, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, or Michigan, a separate offer unlocked $150 in bonus bets if your first bet of $10 or more won—another win-based variation with a smaller ceiling.
Fanatics Sportsbook kept pushing its retail-loyalty twist: $100 in FanCash plus 20+ “No Sweat Bets” in FanCash for losing first football bets on Game Days from late August through October. FanCash converts into bonus bets, and it stacks well for anyone planning to bet all season.
Add the major deals together, and new users could tap into more than $3,000 in potential value. The catch, as always, lives in the details—how bonus bets pay out, expiration windows, and whether a promo requires a win or just a qualifying wager.
- Bet-and-get (DraftKings, bet365, ESPN BET): Place a small qualifying bet and receive bonus bets regardless of the result.
- Bet insurance (BetMGM): If your first bet loses, you get bonus bets back—no bonus if you win.
- Win-based unlocks (FanDuel, select BetMGM states): Your first bet must win to receive the bonus.
- Boosts and currency (Caesars profit boosts, Fanatics FanCash): Increase payout potential or earn site currency that converts to bonus bets.
Eligibility varies by state. You’ll need geolocation turned on, a valid ID, and a new account per sportsbook. Promos change fast around Week 1 and prime-time games, so always check the current terms in the app before you bet.
How to bet Ravens vs. Bills: lines, strategy, and fine print
Oddsmakers called this one tight. Baltimore opened as a slight favorite: Ravens -120 on the moneyline versus Bills +100, with a spread of Ravens -1 (-110) and an over/under of 50.5. Those numbers tell a story:
- Moneyline -120 implies about a 54.5% win probability for Baltimore. Even money (+100) puts Buffalo at around 50% before juice.
- Spread of -1 vs. +1 signals a near coin flip, with bookmakers shading slight home-field edge to the Ravens.
- Total of 50.5 hints at an expected pace and efficiency consistent with top-tier offenses, but not a full-on track meet.
If you’re line-shopping, the small differences matter. -120 vs. -115 can swing long-term ROI. The same goes for totals: 50.5 versus 51 changes how you think about key numbers. Always compare two or three books before placing a wager—especially on a one-point spread.
For recreational bettors sorting through the promos, think about bet type first, then the offer that fits it.
- Like the favorite and want the simplest path? Moneyline at the best price is cleaner than laying a point. If the Ravens win by one, -1 pushes but the moneyline cashes.
- Prefer volatility? Same-game parlays let you combine spread/total with player props. That’s where profit boosts (Caesars) or FanCash (Fanatics) can stretch your payout or soften misses.
- Risk-averse on first bet? First-bet insurance (BetMGM) covers a stumble. If you’re already confident in your pick, win-based offers (FanDuel) can unlock big bonus stacks—but only if that first bet hits.
How bonus bets actually pay out trips up a lot of people. When a bonus bet wins, you usually get the winnings only—your stake isn’t returned. A $25 bonus bet at +100 returns $25, not $50. That’s why you want to use bonus bets on plus-money or boosted plays where the payout multiplier is higher. Always check expiration windows; seven days is common, and unused bets vanish.
Prop markets are where the promo formats diverge. Profit boosts are great on player-yardage overs, alternate lines, or touchdown scorer markets, especially in a high-total game. For example, in a 50.5 total environment, you’ll often find fair prices on alt totals (+7 or -7 from the main number) and receiver yardage ladders. With boosts, those can turn into outsized returns without increasing your stake.
Live betting brings another wrinkle. If the first quarter starts slow, totals can slide from 50.5 into the mid-40s. That’s a better entry point if you expected points. Books also post drive-result markets (punt, field goal, touchdown) and next-play outcomes. Use caution: limits are smaller, lines move fast, and it’s easy to overextend during swings.
Here’s a practical way to stack these offers across one game day:
- Use a bet-and-get (DraftKings or bet365) on a small first wager to bank guaranteed bonus bets.
- Place a confident straight bet with FanDuel if you like their win-based unlock—and you actually like the line they’re offering.
- Park an aggressive first bet at BetMGM if you want insurance on a bigger number.
- Deploy Caesars profit boosts on alt spreads, TD scorer props, or SGP legs where price improves matter most.
- Roll Fanatics FanCash into later-week plays to extend value beyond one night.
Taxes and record-keeping are part of the game. In the U.S., gambling winnings are taxable. Sportsbooks may issue tax forms if you meet thresholds, but you’re responsible for reporting all winnings. Keep track of deposits, withdrawals, and net results—especially if you’re using multiple books.
A few hard rules help keep things sane on a prime-time slate:
- Set a budget for the night and stick to it. Promos don’t change your bankroll limits.
- Only bet what you can afford to lose. If you feel pressure or chase losses, step away.
- Check eligibility, state lines, and terms before you tap “place bet.” Offers differ by location and can change without notice.
The bottom line on this matchup from a betting angle: markets priced it as a near toss-up with an offensive tilt. If you believe in Baltimore’s edge at home, moneyline shopping is better than guessing on a one-point spread. If you like Buffalo’s passing ceiling, underdog prices and alt lines can be your friend. Either way, the Week 1 board gave you tools to stretch value—if you pick the right promos for the bets you actually want to make.
