What is the ruling on playing cards (baloot) and chess, and what is the ruling on promoting them and everything related to them?

Scholars have differed on the ruling regarding playing chess and baloot (a card game), but they have unanimously agreed on their prohibition in two cases: First, if the playing is accompanied by gambling, which is known as Maysir, based on the Almighty's saying: "O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone altars [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may succeed." Second, if playing leads to engaging in prohibited acts such as abandoning or delaying prayers, or the mixing of men and women. However, if the playing is not associated with these two cases, scholars have differed on the ruling of chess, while details on the ruling of playing cards can be found in another fatwa.