According to RTÉ, more than €2m ($2.1m) has been spent so far on the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland, despite it not functioning just yet. 

The body's formation has suffered from delays in legislation, with the Gambling Regulation Bill 2022 said to be moving towards its final stages. 

According to the figures, which come from the Department of Justice in Ireland and were released on radio show Saturday with Colm O' Mongáin, €161,000 was spent in 2022 to prepare for the establishment of the authority, €1.63m was spent in 2023 and €303,000 has spent so far this year up until March. 

James Browne, the Minister of State at the Department of Justice, has said the new bill will go to Cabinet next Tuesday. 

While on the RTÉ Radio 1 show, Browne said: "It's a huge piece of legislation. 

"We're trying to regulate an area that is effectively not regulated in terms of licensing, but we're coming from a public health perspective so we're also looking at anti money laundering sections in there, child protection measures. 

"We have a social fund in there so we'll be levying the industry for education, treatment, awareness... the regulator would be self-financing in terms of a levy... so it's actually a massive piece of legislation." 

Staying with Ireland, last week, Lottoland expressed concern over Browne refusing to meet the company to express some of its concerns, as well as seeking clarification over a number of comments he made on RTÉ Radio 1’s Drivetime show.