David 'Davey' Scatino is the (former) owner of Ramsey Sports and Outdoors and a childhood friend of Tony Soprano and Artie Bucco . He is first introduced in the Season 2 episode "The Happy Wanderer", where is with his son, Eric Scatino searching for colleges. Davey has a compulsive gambling habit, which Tony uses for his profit. In the same episode, Davey is participating in a poker game owned by Richie Aprile. Later, Tony allows Davey to enter a high-stakes poker game (known as "The Executive game," with notable alumni such as Frank Sinatra Jr.in attendance) for which he borrows and loses $45,000.
Following his massive debt to Richie and Tony, they become partners in his business, Ramsey Sports and Outdoors, and began racking up debt by purchasing merchandise which they sell on the gray market. The proceeds from this are used to retire the debts. In the end, the sporting goods store is seized due to nonpayment, but Tony declares the debt repaid. Davey's brother-in-law, Victor Musto, has had enough of Davey's irresponsibility and takes charge of the family, and orders Davey out of their lives. David does so by separating from Christine.
When Meadow graduates high school, Davey is seen by Tony at the ceremony helping himself to some coffee. Now that the debt is behind them and Richie is dead, Tony approaches Davey in a friendly manner. David says his son is going to Montclair State University, paid for by Victor Musto. Prior to his debt, Davey emptied a trust fund intended for Eric's college and gambled that away. He does not say that directly, but says to Tony that Montclair State is all they can afford due to money problems. Davey also says he is in the process of divorcing and moving to Nevada, where he got a job as a ranch hand.
Overview
David has a past impulsive gambling habit, for which he went to Gamblers Anonymous to recover. To prevent him from gambling away Ramsey Sports and Outdoors, his wife, Christine, has the business under her name.
In "The Happy Wanderer", Davey approaches Tony with the intent of playing a high-stakes poker game. Tony reluctantly agrees. Davey becomes quickly heavily indebted to Tony, to the tune of $45,000.
Also in "The Happy Wanderer", Tony confronts Davey in his store about avoiding him. When Davey tries to use their friendship as leverage, Tony repeatedly assaults him.
Later, Davey goes to his other childhood friend, Artie Bucco, and asks him for a $20,000 loan to give him "breathing room" with Tony. Artie declines, claiming his restaurant needs roofing. Although that may have been the case, given Davey's history of fiscal irresponsibility, Artie likely figured his own chances of repayment were slim.
As partial payment to Tony, Davey offers up his son's SUV. Tony accepts and presents the SUV to Meadow, who recognizes it and becomes furious, since she and Eric are friends.
Behind the Scenes
Robert Patrick was arguably best known for his role in Terminator 2, playing the villianous shapeshifting cyborg T-1000. He later claimed it was a change of pace playing a pathetic character like Davey Scatino, but producer David Chase felt he was appropriate for the role. To prepare for his role, Patrick attended a Gamblers Anonymous meeting. To reward some of the members for opening up about their problems, he took them out to dinner. In getting to know them, he was told many turned to gambling "as it made them feel powerful, like John Wayne or Sean Connery".