diff --git a/be-jeopardy/internal/handlers/handlers.go b/be-jeopardy/internal/handlers/handlers.go
index 9c64275..019276e 100644
--- a/be-jeopardy/internal/handlers/handlers.go
+++ b/be-jeopardy/internal/handlers/handlers.go
@@ -254,41 +254,28 @@ func JoinPublicGame(c *gin.Context) {
 func JoinGameChat(c *gin.Context) {
 	log.Infof("Received request to join game chat")
 
-	ws, err := upgrader.Upgrade(c.Writer, c.Request, nil)
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Errorf("Error upgrading connection to WebSocket: %s", err.Error())
-		respondWithError(c, http.StatusInternalServerError, ErrJoiningChatMsg)
-		return
-	}
-
-	_, msg, err := ws.ReadMessage()
+	token, err := c.Cookie(jwtCookie)
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Errorf("Error reading message from WebSocket: %s", err.Error())
-		closeConnWithMsg(ws, socket.ServerError, ErrJoiningChatMsg)
-		return
-	}
-
-	var req TokenRequest
-	if err := json.Unmarshal(msg, &req); err != nil {
-		log.Errorf("Error parsing chat request: %s", err.Error())
-		closeConnWithMsg(ws, socket.BadRequest, ErrMalformedReqMsg)
+		log.Errorf("Error getting token from cookie: %s", err.Error())
+		respondWithError(c, http.StatusForbidden, ErrInvalidAuthCredMsg)
 		return
 	}
 
-	playerId, err := auth.GetJWTSubject(req.Token)
+	playerId, err := auth.GetJWTSubject(token)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Errorf(ErrGettingPlayerIdMsg, err.Error())
-		closeConnWithMsg(ws, socket.Unauthorized, ErrInvalidAuthCredMsg)
+		respondWithError(c, http.StatusUnauthorized, ErrInvalidAuthCredMsg)
 		return
 	}
 
-	conn := socket.NewSafeConn(ws)
-	err = jeopardy.JoinGameChat(playerId, conn)
+	ws, err := upgrader.Upgrade(c.Writer, c.Request, nil)
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Errorf("Error joining chat: %s", err.Error())
-		closeConnWithMsg(ws, socket.BadRequest, "Unable to join chat: %s", err.Error())
+		log.Errorf("Error upgrading connection to WebSocket: %s", err.Error())
+		respondWithError(c, http.StatusInternalServerError, ErrJoiningChatMsg)
 		return
 	}
+
+	jeopardy.JoinGameChat(playerId, ws)
 }
 
 func AddBot(c *gin.Context) {
@@ -318,41 +305,28 @@ func AddBot(c *gin.Context) {
 func PlayGame(c *gin.Context) {
 	log.Infof("Received play request")
 
-	ws, err := upgrader.Upgrade(c.Writer, c.Request, nil)
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Errorf("Error upgrading connection to WebSocket: %s", err.Error())
-		respondWithError(c, http.StatusInternalServerError, UnexpectedServerErrMsg)
-		return
-	}
-
-	_, msg, err := ws.ReadMessage()
+	token, err := c.Cookie(jwtCookie)
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Errorf("Error reading message from WebSocket: %s", err.Error())
-		closeConnWithMsg(ws, socket.ServerError, UnexpectedServerErrMsg)
-		return
-	}
-
-	var req TokenRequest
-	if err := json.Unmarshal(msg, &req); err != nil {
-		log.Errorf("Error parsing play request: %s", err.Error())
-		closeConnWithMsg(ws, socket.BadRequest, ErrMalformedReqMsg)
+		log.Errorf("Error getting token from cookie: %s", err.Error())
+		respondWithError(c, http.StatusForbidden, ErrInvalidAuthCredMsg)
 		return
 	}
 
-	playerId, err := auth.GetJWTSubject(req.Token)
+	playerId, err := auth.GetJWTSubject(token)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Errorf(ErrGettingPlayerIdMsg, err.Error())
-		closeConnWithMsg(ws, socket.Unauthorized, ErrInvalidAuthCredMsg)
+		respondWithError(c, http.StatusUnauthorized, ErrInvalidAuthCredMsg)
 		return
 	}
 
-	conn := socket.NewSafeConn(ws)
-	err = jeopardy.PlayGame(playerId, conn)
+	ws, err := upgrader.Upgrade(c.Writer, c.Request, nil)
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Errorf("Error playing game: %s", err.Error())
-		closeConnWithMsg(ws, socket.BadRequest, "Unable to play game: %s", err.Error())
+		log.Errorf("Error upgrading connection to WebSocket: %s", err.Error())
+		respondWithError(c, http.StatusInternalServerError, UnexpectedServerErrMsg)
 		return
 	}
+
+	jeopardy.PlayGame(playerId, ws)
 }
 
 func PlayAgain(c *gin.Context) {
@@ -441,11 +415,6 @@ func parseBody(body io.ReadCloser, v any) error {
 	return json.Unmarshal(msg, v)
 }
 
-func closeConnWithMsg(conn *websocket.Conn, code int, msg string, args ...any) {
-	_ = conn.WriteJSON(jeopardy.Response{Code: code, Message: fmt.Sprintf(msg, args...)})
-	_ = conn.Close()
-}
-
 func respondWithError(c *gin.Context, code int, msg string, args ...any) {
 	c.JSON(code, jeopardy.Response{Code: code, Message: fmt.Sprintf(msg, args...)})
 }
diff --git a/be-jeopardy/internal/jeopardy/chat.go b/be-jeopardy/internal/jeopardy/chat.go
index 9c9a505..90366af 100644
--- a/be-jeopardy/internal/jeopardy/chat.go
+++ b/be-jeopardy/internal/jeopardy/chat.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/gorilla/websocket"
 	"github.com/rileythomp/jeopardy/be-jeopardy/internal/log"
+	"github.com/rileythomp/jeopardy/be-jeopardy/internal/socket"
 )
 
 type ChatMessage struct {
@@ -15,25 +16,31 @@ type ChatMessage struct {
 	TimeStamp  int64  `json:"timeStamp"`
 }
 
-func JoinGameChat(playerId string, conn SafeConn) error {
+func JoinGameChat(playerId string, ws *websocket.Conn) {
+	conn := socket.NewSafeConn(ws)
+
 	game, err := GetPlayerGame(playerId)
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		log.Errorf("Error getting game for player %s: %s", playerId, err.Error())
+		closeConnWithMsg(conn, socket.BadRequest, "Unable to join chat: %s", err.Error())
+		return
 	}
 
 	player, err := game.getPlayerById(playerId)
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		log.Errorf("Error getting player by id: %s", err.Error())
+		closeConnWithMsg(conn, socket.BadRequest, "Unable to join chat: %s", err.Error())
+		return
 	}
 	if player.chatConn() != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("Player already in chat")
+		log.Errorf("Error joining chat: Player already in chat")
+		closeConnWithMsg(conn, socket.BadRequest, "Unable to join chat: Player already in chat")
+		return
 	}
 	player.setChatConn(conn)
 
 	player.sendChatPings()
 	player.processChatMessages(game.chatChan)
-
-	return nil
 }
 
 func (p *Player) processChatMessages(chatChan chan ChatMessage) {
diff --git a/be-jeopardy/internal/jeopardy/jeopardy.go b/be-jeopardy/internal/jeopardy/jeopardy.go
index 3da9041..c565a0b 100644
--- a/be-jeopardy/internal/jeopardy/jeopardy.go
+++ b/be-jeopardy/internal/jeopardy/jeopardy.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/google/uuid"
+	"github.com/gorilla/websocket"
 	"github.com/rileythomp/jeopardy/be-jeopardy/internal/db"
 	"github.com/rileythomp/jeopardy/be-jeopardy/internal/log"
 	"github.com/rileythomp/jeopardy/be-jeopardy/internal/socket"
@@ -167,26 +168,32 @@ func AddBot(playerId string) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func PlayGame(playerId string, conn SafeConn) error {
+func PlayGame(playerId string, ws *websocket.Conn) {
+	conn := socket.NewSafeConn(ws)
+
 	game, err := GetPlayerGame(playerId)
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		log.Errorf("Error getting game for player: %s", err.Error())
+		closeConnWithMsg(conn, socket.BadRequest, "Unable to play game: %s", err.Error())
+		return
 	}
 
 	player, err := game.getPlayerById(playerId)
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		log.Errorf("Error getting player by id: %s", err.Error())
+		closeConnWithMsg(conn, socket.BadRequest, "Unable to play game: %s", err.Error())
+		return
 	}
 	if player.conn() != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("Player already playing")
+		log.Errorf("Error playing game: Player already playing")
+		closeConnWithMsg(conn, socket.BadRequest, "Unable to play game: Player already playing")
+		return
 	}
 	player.setConn(conn)
 	player.sendPings()
 	player.readMessages(game.msgChan, game.pauseChan)
 
 	game.handlePlayerJoined(player)
-
-	return nil
 }
 
 func (g *Game) handlePlayerJoined(player GamePlayer) {
@@ -285,3 +292,8 @@ func removeGame(g *Game) {
 		delete(playerGames, p.id())
 	}
 }
+
+func closeConnWithMsg(conn SafeConn, code int, msg string, args ...any) {
+	_ = conn.WriteJSON(Response{Code: code, Message: fmt.Sprintf(msg, args...)})
+	_ = conn.Close()
+}
diff --git a/fe-jeopardy/src/app/game/chat/chat.component.ts b/fe-jeopardy/src/app/game/chat/chat.component.ts
index d848bef..2df5659 100644
--- a/fe-jeopardy/src/app/game/chat/chat.component.ts
+++ b/fe-jeopardy/src/app/game/chat/chat.component.ts
@@ -25,10 +25,6 @@ export class ChatComponent implements OnInit, AfterViewChecked {
 	ngOnInit(): void {
 		this.chatService.Connect()
 
-		this.chatService.OnOpen(() => {
-			this.chatService.Send({ token: this.jwt })
-		})
-
 		this.chatService.OnMessage((event: { data: string }) => {
 			let resp = JSON.parse(event.data)
 
diff --git a/fe-jeopardy/src/app/game/game.component.ts b/fe-jeopardy/src/app/game/game.component.ts
index 2157a66..06a81f2 100644
--- a/fe-jeopardy/src/app/game/game.component.ts
+++ b/fe-jeopardy/src/app/game/game.component.ts
@@ -52,13 +52,6 @@ export class GameComponent implements OnInit {
 
 		this.websocketService.Connect('play')
 
-		this.websocketService.OnOpen(() => {
-			this.websocketService.Send({
-				state: GameState.PreGame,
-				token: this.jwt,
-			})
-		})
-
 		this.websocketService.OnMessage((event: { data: string }) => {
 			let resp = JSON.parse(event.data)