NEW.BRUNSWICK (CBC) - A Riverview business owner is hoping the provincial government halts its plan to unplug hundreds of video lottery terminals in bars, restaurants and private businesses this weekend.

Across New Brunswick, the provincial government and the Atlantic Lottery Corp. are cutting 650 video lottery terminals as part of their responsible gaming strategy.

And in Moncton, where the province's first casino is now being built, a policy will allow only 60 of the most lucrative VLT sites within an 80-kilometre radius to keep their gaming devices.

For months, retailers in Moncton have said they can't afford to lose their machines and have hoped the government will announce a last-minute reprieve.

Todd Stoyles, the owner of Parklane Bowling Centre in Riverview, has five video gaming devices in his business, which he said are a big draw.

Losing those machines, Stoyles said, will be a huge financial loss and it is an unfair.

"My belief is you can't steal another man's business to give to somebody else, it actually sickens me," he said.

Now, he believes, there is a glimmer of hope that his machines could stay plugged in.

Earlier this week, non-profit and First Nations organizations received a six-month extension on their VLTs.

The Atlantic Lottery Corp. said on Thursday that the cuts to private machines are final, but the lottery corporation is processing applications from several retailers to get their VLTs back.