What is the ruling on playing the card game of Belot?

Question:
May Allah reward you, Honorable Shaykh. This questioner asks about the ruling on playing cards, specifically what is called Belot?

Answer:
If it is played for prizes, it is gambling (maysir). If there are prizes involved, it is gambling, a companion of intoxicants. If it is played without prizes, it is a form of amusement that distracts from prayer and from the remembrance of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). It is not befitting for people of intellect; it is not befitting for people of intellect to play cards. This is the action of the foolish. Furthermore, it leads to staying up late, which prevents the Fajr prayer, and it involves foul speech that circulates among them, because they are foolish and do not avoid foul speech among themselves. In fact, they consider it humor, even if it involves cursing and insulting one another; they consider it humor and good company, whereas it is forbidden speech. In any case, there is no good in playing cards. However, if it is played for a stake, it is gambling, and if it is played without a stake, it is amusement that distracts from the remembrance of Allah.