diff --git a/api/game.go b/api/game.go
index c958e6c..5efedf4 100644
--- a/api/game.go
+++ b/api/game.go
@@ -3,20 +3,35 @@ package api
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
+	"log"
 	"net/http"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/Flashfyre/pokerogue-server/db"
+	"github.com/go-co-op/gocron"
 )
 
-// /game/playercount - get player count
+var (
+	playerCountScheduler = gocron.NewScheduler(time.UTC)
+	playerCount          = 0
+)
 
-func (s *Server) HandlePlayerCountGet(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
-	playerCount, err := db.FetchPlayerCount()
+func SchedulePlayerCountRefresh() {
+	playerCountScheduler.Every(10).Second().Do(UpdatePlayerCount)
+	playerCountScheduler.StartAsync()
+}
+
+func UpdatePlayerCount() {
+	var err error
+	playerCount, err = db.FetchPlayerCount()
 	if err != nil {
-		http.Error(w, err.Error(), http.StatusInternalServerError)
-		return
+		log.Print(err.Error())
 	}
+}
 
+// /game/playercount - get player count
+
+func (s *Server) HandlePlayerCountGet(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	response, err := json.Marshal(playerCount)
 	if err != nil {
 		http.Error(w, fmt.Sprintf("failed to marshal response json: %s", err), http.StatusInternalServerError)
diff --git a/pokerogue-server.go b/pokerogue-server.go
index 73e2a24..f755e9b 100644
--- a/pokerogue-server.go
+++ b/pokerogue-server.go
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ func main() {
 		os.Chmod(*addr, 0777)
 	}
 
+	api.SchedulePlayerCountRefresh()
 	api.ScheduleDailyRunRefresh()
 	api.InitDailyRun()