Gambling-- a disease???

In the latest NBA scandal, referee Tim Donaghy has been found betting on games, and sharing information available only to referees. He has been charged with offense due to to the involvement of mafia, and in the latest twist brought about by his lawyers, they are claiming he has had this condition(giving it medical terms) for a while, and being untreated, he has fallen deeper and deeper through the years.....I fee it is a pure manipulation of the system, where anything and everything is a medical condition ....Can betting be really attributed to a medical condition....???