Abstract: A portal unit for toys, the portal unit having a housing, a display apparatus that is arranged at a portion of the housing, a receptacle for at least one toy, and a toy recognition device. In embodiments, the display apparatus has a liquid crystal display and a background illumination device; wherein the liquid crystal display is transparent; wherein the display apparatus forms an interior space, of which at least one inner wall is visible from the outside; and wherein the background illumination device is arranged at a distance from the liquid crystal display on a rear wall of the interior space.