Abstract: A dispensing machine (100) is divided into three compartments (110, 112, 114). An animal-like figure including the body and head of an elephant (118) is located in a central compartment (112) and the head (118) can be rotated on the body by a drive mechanism (134) in the upper compartment (114). A number of non-prize containing packages (130) are provided in the central compartment (112) and prize-containing packages are located in the upper compartment (114). In operation, upon insertion of coins into the coin mechanism (154) the drive mechanism (134) is operated and causes the head (118) to turn through 360.degree. passing through the non-prize containing packages (130). Upon each cycle, one prize-containing package from the upper compartment (114) is released from the upper compartment and passes into the passage (112) in the head (118). The prize-containing package is discharged from the trunk of the head through opened bottomed bucket (128) into a prize-receiving receptacle (166).