diff --git a/src/bot.js b/src/bot.js
index 3582628..d6d0458 100644
--- a/src/bot.js
+++ b/src/bot.js
@@ -98,7 +98,6 @@ class Bot {
     this.isGameRunning = true;
     
     let game = new TexasHoldem(this.slack, messages, channel, players);
-    let gameEnded = game.start();
 
     // Listen for messages directed at the bot containing 'quit game.'
     messages.where(e => MessageHelpers.containsUserMention(e.text, this.slack.self.id) &&
@@ -111,7 +110,9 @@ class Bot {
         game.quit();
       });
     
-    return gameEnded.do(() => this.isGameRunning = false);
+    return rx.Observable.timer(3000)
+      .flatMap(() => game.start())
+      .do(() => this.isGameRunning = false);
   }
 
   // Private: Adds AI-based players (primarily for testing purposes).
diff --git a/src/texas-holdem.js b/src/texas-holdem.js
index 6a249f3..a9b363e 100644
--- a/src/texas-holdem.js
+++ b/src/texas-holdem.js
@@ -33,7 +33,19 @@ class TexasHoldem {
     // them often, and fetching them takes linear time per number of users.
     this.playerDms = {};
     for (let player of this.players) {
-      this.playerDms[player.id] = this.slack.getDMByName(player.name);
+      let dm = this.slack.getDMByName(player.name);
+      this.playerDms[player.id] = dm;
+      
+      // If a DM channel hasn't been opened yet, we need to open one first.
+      if (!dm || !dm.is_open) {
+        this.slack.openDM(player.id, result => {
+          if (result.ok) {
+            this.playerDms[player.id] = this.slack.getDMByName(player.name);
+          } else {
+            console.log(`Unable to open DM for ${player.name}: ${result.error}`);
+          }
+        });
+      }
 
       // Each player starts with 100 big blinds.
       player.chips = this.bigBlind * 100;