IMHO,"Duffy" Conley is one of the more interesting characters on the local gambling scene. He started out as a kid washing dishes at the old Del-Kid restaurant out in Robinson Twp.(We called it Greasy Gus's,it was one of the few food joints open all night in those days). He began placing Video Poker machines and as his business (and connections)grew,he developed a reputation as a guy who always gave his associates a fair deal,and sincerely wanted to build mutually profitable relationships. After he took his first big fall,he kept his mouth shut and did his bit. He went back on a parole violation,got out,and caught another case involving a pretty lucrative sports book. He then decided to cash in on the booming online auction business and started Bid66.com,a "penny auction" site. This is actually a legit endeavor,and you can't swing a dead cat anywhere in the Western Pa area without hitting a blue Bid66 bumper sticker. Bottom line,Duffy hustled his butt off and built a hugely successful business,always staying loyal and never giving up his "partners" (I'm sure you know a few of them). Back in the old days,whenever he walked into a bar that had his machines,he would buy a round for the whole bar,kick the bartender a sweet tip,and,if he saw someone playing a machine.he would slip him a tenner so he could have a few free credits. He also owned a ton of real estate (mostly in his girl's name).
It wasn't unusual for him to help out a down on their luck bar or coffee shop owner with a few bucks as a gesture of goodwill and gratitude for taking his machines. Of course in his business there were times when he had to resort to,shall we say, "aggressive" collection practices,but all in all the guy was and is pretty much a gentleman.