Casino Bomber’s Failed Attempt Draws Comparison With Infamous Harvey’s Casino Incident

We may never know the answer to the latest incident where, on October 30, Bryan Robert Eckley, a 46-year-old from Tampa, Florida, was arrested and charged with making and placing destructive devices after allegedly concealing two radio-controlled explosive devices in the restrooms of a casino. 

We do know that this is not the first time a casino has been targeted with explosive devices, but hopefully it will be the last.   

Motive of Bomber Unclear

It is not clear as yet whether the callous act was fuelled by any financial motivation or personal grudge against the casino. There is also still some speculation as to the name and location of the casino, although reports indicate it was the Hard Rock Casino.  

We reported recently on the implosions of casinos like the Tropicana and the destruction that follows. We also focused on the historic event that was the Legacy of the Harvey's Resort Hotel Bombing.

Bizarrely, in a subsequent interview about Harvey’s with FBI Agent Chris Ronay, he said: “The neighbouring casinos weren't necessarily evacuated if they were in a safe area. 

So the people that were there on holiday and gambling began to make books on when the bomb would go off, or if it would go off. I mean, the casinos set up the gambling procedures for this event.”  

Similarities to Bombing of Harvey’s Casino 

In stark contrast to the controlled implosion of contemporary casinos is the chaotic past of the Harvey's Wheelhouse Hotel and Casino. In 1980, a devastating bombing at this hotel in Stateline, Nevada, resulted in extensive property damage but thankfully no casualties.

That incident, orchestrated by John Birges Sr. in an attempt to extort the casino following significant gambling losses, has recently been revisited by a popular true crime podcast. 

The impact of such violent incident’s echoes through the community, leaving environmental scars and reconsiderations for safety measures in urban developments.    

Eckley’s actions bear a chilling resemblance to that notorious incident. In both cases, the devices posed significant risks to public safety and were strategically hidden within a casino environment. The investigation into Eckley began on September 30, following reports of a suspicious individual with a white Ford Explorer. 

Similarly, Harvey’s bombing was perpetrated by John Birges Sr. and his accomplices, who intended to use the bomb as a means of extortion due to financial troubles. 

Casino Staff Vigilance Saved Lives of Countless People  

Both instances illustrate a deranged motivation to inflict harm, although details about Eckley's devices have not yet been disclosed, they were reported to have posed a comparable risk of serious bodily injury.  

Thankfully, staff vigilance in both instances meant that there was successful prevention of Eckley’s devices from detonating. It mirrored the early intervention that occurred during Harvey’s bombing, where quick evacuations allowed for no injuries despite the devastating explosion that ensued. 

Incredibly, people gathered during Harvey’s episode to wager on the outcome of the bomb. Tourists gathered to cheer as the bomb finally detonated.  

Both cases underscore the danger posed by such devices in casino locations, which would have been packed with innocent people. There was potential for catastrophic outcomes at the Hard Rock had law enforcement not intervened swiftly.   

Both cases highlight the importance of the commitment of law enforcement agencies in preventing such threats to communal safety in gambling venues. As the case unfolds, authorities remain dedicated to bringing Eckley to justice for endangering lives in yet another alarming chapter of casino-related violence.