"Like a poker player who has wagered a stack of chips on a hand only to have an opponent draw a pair of aces, the town of Ledyard has a tough call on its long, costly legal battle over taxing leased slot machines at Foxwoods Resort Casino.

After a federal judge ruled last week that the town could not collect taxes on such equipment, the town must weigh whether to cut its losses - legal bills have skyrocketed to more than $900,000 over the past six years - or to spend more money appealing the ruling to a higher court.

"I think we have a strong case for an appeal," Ledyard Mayor John Rodolico said Monday, noting that much more is at stake than simply tax revenues from slot machines. He said numerous other retail stores and restaurants do business at Foxwoods, and if they also were allowed to avoid paying municipal property taxes it would be a devastating loss to the town."

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