Yellowknife (Jul 05/06) - With scores of toonies dangling tantalizingly over the edge of an enclosed platform, Yellowknife resident Mike Hyslop was "appalled" at what he saw as a gambling machine set up in the children's area of Friday's Raven Mad Daze festivities.

"I played those games myself in the West Edmonton Mall where you'd drop tokens in, not toonies," Hyslop explained of the MF Wagner Shows-operated device at the festival.

"Now if they sold tokens for 25 cents each and awarded prizes, that's one thing but this was different, the whole set-up was not geared towards adults, it was a kids' area."

After walking around the machine for five minutes, Hyslop was told by the machine operator to leave if he wasn't playing.

"I'm still not sure which I should find more astounding," Hyslop said. "The large number of coins being bilked from unsuspecting kids or the smaller number of parents standing over their shoulders passing them more money. Is there not enough gambling addiction around without having to induct eight-year-olds into the fold?"

The city was contacted to determine whether a lottery licence was necessary and if so, acquired to operate the activity. But Yellowknifer was informed by Mayor Gord Van Tighem that the machine in question was "considered a game of skill" therefore no licence was required.

Festival co-ordinator Lisa Tesar says that there were several organizations running licensed lottery schemes over the course of Raven Mad Days events.

"If this person has a problem, they should come and talk to me as it will help with next year's planning," she said.