ATLANTA — Naming the exact date on which lawmakers can agree to call it quits is a fun and frustrating game here. All politicians and those who are employed by aiding or watching them at the Capitol play it all session.

It wouldn’t be surprising to find a betting pool begun at the beginning of the session on which calendar day the 40th legislative day, or Sine Die, will fall.

Gov. Sonny Perdue placed his opening bet in January on the end of March because this Sunday he boards the inaugural Delta non-stop flight to China — and will stay overseas for a week.

After Gov. Perdue cut revenue projections this month, forcing legislators to adjust budgets and spending, things continued to remain up in the air, even at the beginning of the week. Lawmakers and Capitol members groaned when they learned the session might spill over into vacations planned with children on their spring break from school.

On Tuesday, Senate President Pro Tem Eric Johnson said he would be “pessimistic” about whether the last day would fall in the first week of April.

But legislators tried to take all the fun out of the guessing game by setting a calendar Thursday to have Sine Die, or “without day” in English, fall on April 4 — and acting confident it will happen.

After all, they can re-set their calendar as long as both chambers agree.

Sen. Don Thomas, R-Dalton, expects it to be one of “the least hectic finishes” in his 12 years at the Capitol.

“I don’t think there’s any doubt Sine Die will be next Friday,” he said, adding that with the Senate passing next year’s budget on Friday, the “big thing,” or only constitutionally mandated legislation, is well on its way.

Last year, lawmakers spent almost up to the last day just passing the midyear budget, but this year, the adjustments are already passed for this year.

Rep. Tom Dickson, R-Cohutta, said the Friday end date will “put a lot of pressure on conference committees,” including those for budget and a transportation special purpose local options sales tax.

Lawmakers seem sure enough about the last day date to make plans.

Sen. Thomas, a physician in Dalton, said he plans to be back treating his patients at his medical office as soon as possible and helping his “sweet wife” through the recovery from chemotherapy for her lung cancer.

Rep. Dickson said he hardly ever makes plans for a few days after session, to be open for local organizations that want to hear from him. But he has a trip planned for next week.

“We’ve already got the plane tickets,” he said.

Let’s hope he uses them as planned.