Is it permissible to play billiards where the loser pays the table rental fee?

Many young people are distracted from diligent pursuit of knowledge and livelihood by unproductive play and amusement, which negatively impacts their lives and health.

Playing billiards inside clubs is impermissible due to the potential accompanying evils (swearing, cursing, missing prayers, gambling).

Playing billiards is permissible in a place free from evils, provided the following conditions are met: 1. It must be free of betting. 2. It must be free of swearing, cursing, disparagement, malice, and hatred. 3. It must not lead to neglecting duties such as prayer, seeking knowledge, and caring for family. 4. If the loser pays the table rental, it is considered gambling and forbidden usury, unless the table rental is shared among all players, in which case the winner's share is waived.

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said that chess—and his statement applies to billiards—is forbidden by scholarly consensus if it distracts one from an obligation. This also applies if it involves or necessitates something forbidden, such as lying, injustice, cooperating in aggression, or if playing it leads to neglecting an obligation or committing a forbidden act.