Dutch Authorities Detain Unibet CEO

Unibet says it was because of an alleged breach of French Gambling Laws. French gaming monopolies PMU and FDJ have placed legal challenges against Unibet, filed in 2006. They are based on Nylander breaking French national laws from 1836 and 1891 designed to protect State-owned monopolies.

The following comments were made by a Unibet spokesman, "Unibet is outraged by France's total disregard of European Community law aiming to protect a domestic commercial gambling monopoly, which is being challenged by the European Commission,"

The European Commission also expressing concerns and Oliver Drewes, a spokesman of EU Internal market issues released the statement, "This is an issue which we have been informed about, we are worried about, and that in our view somebody might have been arrested who is innocent under (EU) law. We believe that the French sports betting legislation is not in line with (European) community law."

Unibet has had previous problems with the French. Their cycling team was banned from Tour de France this year from rules prohibiting advertising by foreign gambling firms, even though France's horse racing betting monopoly was the race's main sponsor.

Acting CEO appointed by the Board of Unibet, Mr. Hellenius, says every possibly action will be taken to bring this matter to justice.