diff --git a/crates/game-service/src/battle_session.rs b/crates/game-service/src/battle_session.rs
index 39d2790..6536c11 100644
--- a/crates/game-service/src/battle_session.rs
+++ b/crates/game-service/src/battle_session.rs
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ impl BattleSession {
             taunts,
             next_bot_emote,
             next_snapshot: SNAPSHOT_INTERVAL_TICKS,
-            next_bot_play: 0,
+            next_bot_play: crate::bot::BOT_OPENING_DELAY_SECONDS * BATTLE_TICKS_PER_SECOND,
             pushed_snapshots: 0,
             pending_bot_play: None,
         }
diff --git a/crates/game-service/src/bot.rs b/crates/game-service/src/bot.rs
index 6355d6e..0802b6c 100644
--- a/crates/game-service/src/bot.rs
+++ b/crates/game-service/src/bot.rs
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ pub const BOT_NAME: &str = "Bot";
 pub const TAUNT_MENU_COLUMN: &str = "TauntMenu";
 pub const BOT_EMOTE_MIN_SECONDS: i32 = 12;
 pub const BOT_EMOTE_MAX_SECONDS: i32 = 30;
+pub const BOT_OPENING_DELAY_SECONDS: i32 = 6;
 pub const BOT_PLAY_MIN_SECONDS: i32 = 4;
 pub const BOT_PLAY_MAX_SECONDS: i32 = 11;
 pub const BOT_OWNER_INDEX: i32 = 1;