The chief executive officer of the Malta-based online gaming company Unibet Group plc who was arrested on Tuesday at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport at the request of the French authorities was yesterday granted conditional bail.

Swedish national Petter Nylander was forced to hand over his passport and was forbidden from leaving Dutch territory pending the receipt of a French request for his extradition, the Amsterdam prosecutors' office said yesterday evening.

France had issued a European arrest warrant after Mr Nylander failed to respond to a summons from a court in the northern French city of Nanterre.

The matter stems from proceedings by the French betting and horse racing monopolies protests against Unibet for plying its services in France.

Unibet deputy CEO Ragnar Hellenius said in a statement on the company's website yesterday that, "Petter is obviously very tired and the detention has not been pleasant. He is still in a good mood and wants to be released in order for him to join his family."

He added that it was hoped Mr Nylander would be transferred to France immediately and that a French court would quickly release him without charge.