The Dutch Eredivisie has followed the example set by France and Spain by setting up an 18 team eLeague that will mirror the nation’s premier football league over the course of 17 rounds of FIFA17.

There are no shadow punches when you play FIFA17 against your best mate. The only smiley faces are sitting on your dinner plate next to your baked beans. It’s an Alpha male thing. Every loss is like a smack in the face, and there is always a few quid on the line to raise the stakes

It’s at times like these where gambling adds something extra to the party. The desire to win is amplified; the risky type of chemicals start boiling your blood. And so it’s only a matter of time before betting on the outcome of digital sports matches like FIFA17 will become more popular than the real thing.

And it’s happening.