BY The Associated Press
GREENWICH, Conn. -- Even though he was making fistfuls of money, Nick Kurji has had it with Powerball.
He stopped selling tickets last week after being yelled at, cursed at and even threatened by testy fortune hunters from New York and New Jersey who have endured long drives and waits in line for a chance at the growing jackpot, now worth $250 million.
Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Hampshire are the only New England states that participate in the multistate game, making them magnets for would-be winners from surrounding states.
Mr. Kurji's variety store was making $2,000 a day from Powerball sales in recent days, but he stopped selling tickets late last week when the jackpot surged and out-of-state crowds commandeered the sidewalks and streets outside his business.
"I want peace," he said. "The money is not worth it."
As today's drawing approached, things were more chaotic in communities near the Connecticut state line than in other parts of the state. The odds of picking the right numbers are 80 million to 1, but that hasn't deterred "Powerballers."
In Stamford, police were called to several stores when customers waiting to buy tickets refused to leave at closing time.
"It's been just a horror," said Pam Olsey, who owns an interior design business in downtown Greenwich.
In all, 20 states and the District of Columbia sell Powerball tickets. Connecticut is one of the busiest, with combined sales for Sunday and Monday topping $14 million.
