Is it permissible to say, “I will give you a sacrificial animal if you beat me”?

Question:
May Allah reward you, Honorable Shaykh. This questioner asks: Is it permissible for a man to say, “I will give you a sacrificial animal if you beat me in this game”?

Answer:
No, it is not permissible to wager. Taking money through wagering—whether it is a sacrificial animal, coins, or anything else—is gambling (maysir). All wagers for which money is taken are gambling, except for what the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) excluded in his statement: “There is no racing except with the lance, the hoof, or the hoof of a camel.” These three are exceptions because they are training for jihad: archery, horseback riding, and camel riding. These are tools of jihad, so it is permissible to take the prize for them and to take a reward for them. As for wagers other than these, taking money for them is forbidden (haram), and it is gambling and maysir. Yes.