澳大利亚国会议员们在过去一年里曾试图起草法律文案，以限制国民在赌场上的赌博金额，但现在他们发现另一种形式的赌博正在席卷澳大利亚。

　　体育博彩在世界各地的许多国家是属于非法的。但是在澳大利亚，体育博彩越来越受欢迎。在过去的五年里，澳大利亚的体育博彩增长了近15％，这个数字令一些当地人感到十分担忧，他们希望政府能加强这方面的监管。

　　德怀特·兰斯甚至抨击国会议员，说：“他们想制定一些法律条文来限制国民在赌场上的赌博金额，但这样的行为其实是在浪费他们自己的时间。随着体育博彩的人数不断增加，他们应该关注的是这些人是不是有可能会失去他们毕生的积蓄，他们的工作，以及他们的家庭。政府应当设法控制这样的局面。

　　到2012年底，分析家预测，澳大利亚人每年投注的赌金高达225亿美元，这一数字只有少数几个国家能与之相提并论。澳大利亚体育博彩的崛起得益于网络体育博彩，赌客不用离开自己的家，就可以在网上进行体育赛事投注。

　　澳大利亚IBISWorld公司的总经理凯伦Dobie说：“网上体育投注是最方便的赌博形式，而舒适的网络环境是推动体育博彩经济增长的一个重要因素。”

　　足球投注是举世公认的体育博彩。在澳大利亚，足球是全国性的娱乐项目，赌球也已经成为许多澳大利亚人一种广泛的爱好。平均而言，澳大利亚投注总额一年高达1256美元，这一数字只有英国和美国能与之匹敌。

　　译文：

　　Lawmakers have spent the better part of the past year attempting to craft legislation that will limit the amount of casino gambling that takes place in Australia. While lawmakers have had their eye on the casinos, it is another form of gambling that is taking the country by storm.

　　Sports betting, illegal in many countries around the world, is becoming increasingly popular in Australia. Over the past five years, sports betting has grown by almost 15 percent in Australia. That figure has some natives worrying that maybe the government is targeting the wrong type of gambling.

　　"They are all wasting their time with trying to limit what I, and other gamblers, can spend in a casino," said Dwight Lance. "What they should be concerned with is the rising number of people who are losing their life savings, their jobs, and their families, by betting on sports. This is something that the government needs to try and get under control."By the end of 2012, analysts predict that Australians will wager $22.5 billion annually. That figure is only topped in a few countries. Australia has seen the sports betting rise thanks to the creation of online sports books, where gamblers do not even have to leave their homes to place a bet on a sporting event.

　　Sports betting is most accessible online," said IBISWorld Australian general Manager Karen Dobie. "Given the demographic is particularly comfortable in the online environment, this is another factor driving growth."The game of soccer is widely recognized as the most bet upon sport. In Australia, soccer is part of the national pastime, and betting on soccer matches has become a popular hobby for many Australians. On average, an Australian makes wagers totaling $1,256 a year, another figure that is matched only in England and the US.