diff --git a/backend/utils/player-count-checker.js b/backend/utils/player-count-checker.js
index 93e743e..acbb4a3 100644
--- a/backend/utils/player-count-checker.js
+++ b/backend/utils/player-count-checker.js
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ async function watchGameAsAudience(sessionId, gameId, roomCode, maxPlayers) {
     let bestPlayerCount = null;
     let startPlayerCount = null; // Authoritative count from 'start' action
     let gameEnded = false;
+    let audienceJoined = false; // Track whether we've confirmed audience join
     let frameCount = 0;
     
     // Enable CDP and listen for WebSocket frames BEFORE navigating
@@ -91,6 +92,22 @@ async function watchGameAsAudience(sessionId, gameId, roomCode, maxPlayers) {
             if (process.env.DEBUG) {
               console.log(`[Frame ${frameCount}] Found bc:room in client/welcome`);
             }
+            
+            // First client/welcome means Jackbox accepted our audience join
+            if (!audienceJoined) {
+              audienceJoined = true;
+              console.log(`[Audience] Successfully joined room ${roomCode} as audience`);
+              
+              // Broadcast audience.joined event via WebSocket
+              const wsManager = getWebSocketManager();
+              if (wsManager) {
+                wsManager.broadcastEvent('audience.joined', {
+                  sessionId,
+                  gameId,
+                  roomCode
+                }, parseInt(sessionId));
+              }
+            }
           }
           
           if (data.opcode === 'object' && data.result?.key === 'bc:room') {
@@ -285,6 +302,26 @@ async function watchGameAsAudience(sessionId, gameId, roomCode, maxPlayers) {
   }
 }
 
+/**
+ * Broadcast game.started event when room becomes locked
+ */
+function broadcastGameStarted(sessionId, gameId, roomCode, maxPlayers) {
+  try {
+    const wsManager = getWebSocketManager();
+    if (wsManager) {
+      wsManager.broadcastEvent('game.started', {
+        sessionId,
+        gameId,
+        roomCode,
+        maxPlayers
+      }, parseInt(sessionId));
+    }
+    console.log(`[Player Count] Broadcasted game.started for room ${roomCode} (max: ${maxPlayers})`);
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.error('[Player Count] Failed to broadcast game.started:', error.message);
+  }
+}
+
 /**
  * Update player count in database
  */
@@ -315,12 +352,13 @@ function updatePlayerCount(sessionId, gameId, playerCount, status) {
 
 /**
  * Start checking player count for a game
- * New strategy:
- * 1. Wait 30 seconds
- * 2. Check if game is locked - if not, wait another 30 seconds
- * 3. Once locked, join audience and watch entire game
- * 4. Update UI as we learn more
- * 5. Finalize when game ends
+ * Strategy:
+ * 1. Wait 10 seconds for initial room setup
+ * 2. Poll every 10 seconds until game is locked (started)
+ * 3. Broadcast game.started event when locked detected
+ * 4. Join audience and watch entire game
+ * 5. Update UI as we learn more
+ * 6. Finalize when game ends
  */
 async function startPlayerCountCheck(sessionId, gameId, roomCode, maxPlayers = 8) {
   const checkKey = `${sessionId}-${gameId}`;
@@ -388,7 +426,7 @@ async function startPlayerCountCheck(sessionId, gameId, roomCode, maxPlayers = 8
     return null;
   };
 
-  // Wait 30 seconds before first check
+  // Wait 10 seconds before first check
   const initialTimeout = setTimeout(async () => {
     try {
       // Update status to checking
@@ -398,16 +436,17 @@ async function startPlayerCountCheck(sessionId, gameId, roomCode, maxPlayers = 8
         WHERE session_id = ? AND id = ?
       `).run(sessionId, gameId);
 
-      console.log(`[Player Count] Initial check after 30s for ${checkKey}`);
+      console.log(`[Player Count] Initial check after 10s for ${checkKey}`);
       const result = await waitForGameStart();
 
       if (result && result.ready === true) {
-        // Game is locked, start watching with REAL maxPlayers from Jackbox
+        // Game is locked, broadcast game.started and start watching
         const realMaxPlayers = result.maxPlayers;
+        broadcastGameStarted(sessionId, gameId, roomCode, realMaxPlayers);
         console.log(`[Player Count] Using real maxPlayers from Jackbox: ${realMaxPlayers} (database had: ${maxPlayers})`);
         await watchGameAsAudience(sessionId, gameId, roomCode, realMaxPlayers);
       } else if (result === null) {
-        // Not ready yet, check every 30 seconds
+        // Not ready yet, poll every 10 seconds
         const checkInterval = setInterval(async () => {
           // Check if we should stop
           const game = db.prepare(`
@@ -424,11 +463,12 @@ async function startPlayerCountCheck(sessionId, gameId, roomCode, maxPlayers = 8
 
           const result = await waitForGameStart();
           if (result && result.ready === true) {
-            // Game is now locked, stop interval and start watching with REAL maxPlayers
+            // Game is now locked, stop interval, broadcast game.started, and start watching
             clearInterval(checkInterval);
             const check = activeChecks.get(checkKey);
             if (check) check.interval = null;
             const realMaxPlayers = result.maxPlayers;
+            broadcastGameStarted(sessionId, gameId, roomCode, realMaxPlayers);
             console.log(`[Player Count] Using real maxPlayers from Jackbox: ${realMaxPlayers} (database had: ${maxPlayers})`);
             await watchGameAsAudience(sessionId, gameId, roomCode, realMaxPlayers);
           } else if (result === false) {
@@ -436,7 +476,7 @@ async function startPlayerCountCheck(sessionId, gameId, roomCode, maxPlayers = 8
             clearInterval(checkInterval);
             stopPlayerCountCheck(sessionId, gameId);
           }
-        }, 30000); // Check every 30 seconds
+        }, 10000); // Poll every 10 seconds
 
         // Store the interval
         const check = activeChecks.get(checkKey);
@@ -449,7 +489,7 @@ async function startPlayerCountCheck(sessionId, gameId, roomCode, maxPlayers = 8
       updatePlayerCount(sessionId, gameId, null, 'failed');
       stopPlayerCountCheck(sessionId, gameId);
     }
-  }, 30000); // Wait 30 seconds before first check
+  }, 10000); // Wait 10 seconds before first check
 
   // Store the check references
   activeChecks.set(checkKey, {