A West Prince non-profit community centre is desperate for the province to change its policy on video lottery terminals.

The Tyne Valley Firemen's Club is slated to lose its five gambling machines this fall, which would leave it scrambling to find a way to stay open.

Earlier this year, provincial Treasurer Wes Sheridan rolled out a new gambling strategy, with one change involving removing VLTs from less-lucrative locations.

The new rules apply everywhere except legions.

The club wants the exemption expanded to include all non-profit VLT operators.

"We wrote a letter to all the politicians saying that we're not owned by anybody. There's nobody running it and putting the money in their own pocket," said Michael Newcombe, president of the firemen's club. "This is a volunteer organization to keep people ... a place for people to go. It's going to affect us big time."

The club brings in $50,000 a year from VLTs, said Newcombe. The money goes toward wages for employees in the six-lane bowling alley and bar staff.

The community centre has been told the machines will be unplugged for good in September.

Newcombe said he has no idea how the club will make up for the lost revenue.

"It did cross our minds. We just said, 'Why don't we just lock the doors and go? I guess we're just too stubborn to let something go that everybody uses.'"

Before the introduction of VLTs, the non-profit community centre used to rely on liquor sales, said Newcombe.

But, he added, drinking habits have changed over the years, and liquor isn't the money-maker it used to be.

Provincial Treasurer Wes Sheridan couldn't be reached for comment.