Vertigo Theme Parks (VTP), the operator of the Vertigo Theme Park in Buga, Colombia, has announced that it will open a casino at the site.

The 150,000sq ft casino will be one of the first to be located within the gates of a theme park anywhere around the world, and will include high-stake, Las Vegas style gaming tables as well as slot and gaming machines.

Kevin Johnson, chief executive of VTP, said the casino will be managed by an external operator under a facility management agreement.

He said: "The casino will operate within the Free Zone territory of the park and with a special governmental decree it will enjoy advantageous taxation status, which will allow the overall operation of the Buga Theme Park to become even more profitable."

VTP, which has its head offices in Boca Raton, Florida, US, currently only operates the Buga site but plans to roll out its theme park concept across the globe.

It has plans to open seven new Vertigo-branded parks in seven years.