diff --git a/Game/scripts/networked_match.gd b/Game/scripts/networked_match.gd
index f3bec78b..74dad6de 100644
--- a/Game/scripts/networked_match.gd
+++ b/Game/scripts/networked_match.gd
@@ -311,6 +311,10 @@ var _late_joiners: Array[Dictionary] = []
 # to this scene; static because the loop cannot hold a reference to a node that
 # does not exist yet, and consumed on read so it cannot leak into a later match.
 static var server_arena_override := ""
+# Set only by ServerMatchLoop after an allocated casual match passes the
+# initial-connect policy. It is consumed once while building the authoritative
+# six-slot lineup, so direct servers and ranked allocations cannot add bots.
+static var server_bot_fill_override := false
 # §6.3's "cap with --max-spectators". Server only; 0 disables spectating
 # entirely, negative means unlimited.
 var _max_spectators := -1
@@ -451,24 +455,47 @@ func _start_server() -> void:
 	var teams := PackedInt32Array()
 	var spawn_indices := PackedInt32Array()
 	var team_counts := {0: 0, 1: 0}
-	var sorted_peer_ids: Array = MatchNet.roster.keys()
-	sorted_peer_ids.sort()
-	for peer_id in sorted_peer_ids:
-		var info: MatchNet.PlayerInfo = MatchNet.roster[peer_id]
-		var spawn_index: int = info.spawn_index if info.spawn_index >= 0 else team_counts.get(info.team, 0)
-		if info.spawn_index < 0:
-			team_counts[info.team] = spawn_index + 1
+	var config := ServerConfig.parse(OS.get_cmdline_user_args(), false)
+	var use_assigned_bot_fill := server_bot_fill_override and bool(config.get_value("allocated-mode"))
+	server_bot_fill_override = false
+	var spawn_entries: Array[Dictionary] = []
+	if use_assigned_bot_fill:
+		var by_identity := {}
+		for peer_id in MatchNet.roster.keys():
+			var roster_info: MatchNet.PlayerInfo = MatchNet.roster[peer_id]
+			by_identity[roster_info.player_identity] = {"peer_id": int(peer_id), "info": roster_info}
+		for assigned: Dictionary in MatchNet.assigned_player_slots():
+			var identity := String(assigned["player_identity"])
+			if by_identity.has(identity):
+				var human: Dictionary = by_identity[identity]
+				spawn_entries.append({"peer_id": human["peer_id"], "info": human["info"], "team": int(assigned["team"]), "spawn_index": int(assigned["slot"]) % 3, "bot": false})
+			else:
+				spawn_entries.append({"peer_id": -1, "info": null, "team": int(assigned["team"]), "spawn_index": int(assigned["slot"]) % 3, "bot": true})
+	else:
+		var sorted_peer_ids: Array = MatchNet.roster.keys()
+		sorted_peer_ids.sort()
+		for peer_id in sorted_peer_ids:
+			var info: MatchNet.PlayerInfo = MatchNet.roster[peer_id]
+			var spawn_index: int = info.spawn_index if info.spawn_index >= 0 else team_counts.get(info.team, 0)
+			if info.spawn_index < 0:
+				team_counts[info.team] = spawn_index + 1
+			spawn_entries.append({"peer_id": peer_id, "info": info, "team": info.team, "spawn_index": spawn_index, "bot": false})
+	for entry: Dictionary in spawn_entries:
+		var peer_id: int = int(entry["peer_id"])
+		var info: MatchNet.PlayerInfo = entry["info"]
+		var team: int = int(entry["team"])
+		var spawn_index: int = int(entry["spawn_index"])
 		var slot := SlotInfo.new()
 		slot.peer_id = peer_id
-		slot.team = info.team
+		slot.team = team
 		slot.spawn_index = spawn_index
-		slot.player_name = info.player_name
-		slot.player_identity = MatchNet.player_identity(peer_id)
-		slot.controller = RLShipController.new()
-		slot.ship = spawn_ship(info.team, spawn_index, slot.controller)
+		slot.player_name = "Bot %d" % spawn_index if bool(entry["bot"]) else info.player_name
+		slot.player_identity = "" if bool(entry["bot"]) else MatchNet.player_identity(peer_id)
+		slot.controller = _build_opponent(bot_model_path, bot_reaction_ticks, bot_action_noise, "NetworkedMatch") if bool(entry["bot"]) else RLShipController.new()
+		slot.ship = spawn_ship(team, spawn_index, slot.controller)
 		_slots.append(slot)
 		peer_ids.append(peer_id)
-		teams.append(info.team)
+		teams.append(team)
 		spawn_indices.append(spawn_index)
 
 	MatchSim.send_match_config(arena_path, peer_ids, teams, spawn_indices)
diff --git a/Game/scripts/server_boot.gd b/Game/scripts/server_boot.gd
index 27a858e1..acb26c67 100644
--- a/Game/scripts/server_boot.gd
+++ b/Game/scripts/server_boot.gd
@@ -139,6 +139,9 @@ func _install_match_loop() -> void:
 	loop.start_countdown_seconds = float(config.get_value("start-countdown"))
 	loop.max_matches = 1 if bool(config.get_value("allocated-mode")) else int(config.get_value("max-matches"))
 	loop.rotation_mode = String(config.get_value("arena-rotation"))
+	loop.allocated_mode = bool(config.get_value("allocated-mode"))
+	loop.allocated_playlist = String(config.get_value("playlist"))
+	loop.allocated_roster_size = MatchNet.assigned_player_slots().size() if loop.allocated_mode else 0
 	get_tree().root.add_child.call_deferred(loop)
 
 
diff --git a/Game/scripts/server_config.gd b/Game/scripts/server_config.gd
index 1b0265ce..53a56f08 100644
--- a/Game/scripts/server_config.gd
+++ b/Game/scripts/server_config.gd
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ static func specs() -> Array[Spec]:
 	out.append(Spec.new("match-id", Kind.STRING, "", "allocation", "Opaque allocated match identifier"))
 	out.append(Spec.new("server-id", Kind.STRING, "", "allocation", "Opaque allocated server identifier"))
 	out.append(Spec.new("playlist-version", Kind.STRING, "", "allocation", "Matchmaking playlist contract version"))
+	out.append(Spec.new("playlist", Kind.STRING, "", "allocation", "Allocated playlist: casual or ranked"))
 	out.append(Spec.new("client-build", Kind.STRING, "", "allocation", "Expected immutable client build identifier"))
 	out.append(Spec.new("assignment-expiry-unix", Kind.INT, 0, "allocation", "Unix expiry for the allocated assignment; must be in the future"))
 	out.append(Spec.new("server-image-digest", Kind.STRING, "", "allocation", "Expected immutable server image digest (sha256:...)"))
@@ -268,7 +269,7 @@ func _validate() -> void:
 	if not rotation in ["sequential", "random"]:
 		errors.append("--arena-rotation must be sequential or random, got '%s'" % rotation)
 	if bool(values["allocated-mode"]):
-		for key in ["match-id", "server-id", "playlist-version", "client-build", "assignment-expiry-unix", "server-image-digest", "transport", "region"]:
+		for key in ["match-id", "server-id", "playlist-version", "playlist", "client-build", "assignment-expiry-unix", "server-image-digest", "transport", "region"]:
 			if str(values[key]).is_empty():
 				errors.append("--allocated-mode requires --%s" % key)
 		if int(values["assignment-expiry-unix"]) <= int(Time.get_unix_time_from_system()):
@@ -286,6 +287,9 @@ func _validate() -> void:
 		var region := String(values["region"])
 		if not region in ["EU", "NA"]:
 			errors.append("--region must be EU or NA, got '%s'" % region)
+		var playlist := String(values["playlist"])
+		if not playlist in ["casual", "ranked"]:
+			errors.append("--playlist must be casual or ranked, got '%s'" % playlist)
 
 
 static func _is_sha256_digest(value: String) -> bool:
diff --git a/Game/scripts/server_match_loop.gd b/Game/scripts/server_match_loop.gd
index f508070d..1586b51b 100644
--- a/Game/scripts/server_match_loop.gd
+++ b/Game/scripts/server_match_loop.gd
@@ -35,17 +35,25 @@ extends Node
 signal match_starting(arena_path: String, match_index: int)
 
 const POLL_INTERVAL_MS := 250
+const ALLOCATED_WAIT := "WAIT"
+const ALLOCATED_READY := "READY"
+const ALLOCATED_CANCEL := "CANCEL"
+const ALLOCATED_START_WITH_BOTS := "START_WITH_BOTS"
 
 var min_players := 1
 var start_countdown_seconds := 5.0
 var max_matches := 0                  # 0 = run forever
 var rotation_mode := "sequential"
+var allocated_mode := false
+var allocated_playlist := ""
+var allocated_roster_size := 0
 
 var matches_completed := 0
 var _countdown_started_ms := -1
 var _match_active := false
 var _next_poll_ms := 0
 var _shutting_down := false
+var _allocated_connect_started_ms := -1
 
 
 func _process(_delta: float) -> void:
@@ -58,7 +66,54 @@ func _process(_delta: float) -> void:
 	if _match_active:
 		_poll_match_end()
 	else:
+		if allocated_mode:
+			_poll_allocated_match_start(now)
+		else:
+			_poll_match_start(now)
+
+
+func _poll_allocated_match_start(now: int) -> void:
+	if _allocated_connect_started_ms < 0:
+		_allocated_connect_started_ms = now
+	var connected := MatchNet.roster.size()
+	var has_team_zero := false
+	var has_team_one := false
+	for info: MatchNet.PlayerInfo in MatchNet.roster.values():
+		has_team_zero = has_team_zero or info.team == 0
+		has_team_one = has_team_one or info.team == 1
+	var action := allocated_initial_connect_action(allocated_playlist, now - _allocated_connect_started_ms, connected, allocated_roster_size, has_team_zero, has_team_one)
+	if action == ALLOCATED_READY:
 		_poll_match_start(now)
+		return
+	if action == ALLOCATED_CANCEL:
+		var reason := "ranked_initial_connect_timeout" if allocated_playlist == "ranked" else "casual_initial_connect_ineligible"
+		_cancel_allocated_no_show(reason, connected)
+		return
+	if action == ALLOCATED_START_WITH_BOTS:
+		NetworkedMatch.server_bot_fill_override = true
+		_poll_match_start(now)
+
+
+static func allocated_initial_connect_action(playlist: String, elapsed_ms: int, connected: int, expected: int, has_team_zero: bool, has_team_one: bool) -> String:
+	if elapsed_ms < 0 or connected < 0 or expected < 1:
+		return ALLOCATED_CANCEL
+	if connected >= expected:
+		return ALLOCATED_READY
+	if playlist == "ranked":
+		return ALLOCATED_CANCEL if elapsed_ms >= 30000 else ALLOCATED_WAIT
+	if playlist == "casual":
+		if elapsed_ms < 60000:
+			return ALLOCATED_WAIT
+		return ALLOCATED_START_WITH_BOTS if connected >= 2 and has_team_zero and has_team_one else ALLOCATED_CANCEL
+	return ALLOCATED_CANCEL
+
+func _cancel_allocated_no_show(reason: String, connected: int) -> void:
+	if _shutting_down:
+		return
+	_shutting_down = true
+	ServerLog.info("initial_connect_cancelled", {"reason": reason, "connected": connected, "expected": allocated_roster_size})
+	NetworkManager.shutdown()
+	get_tree().quit(0)
 
 
 # A match is over when the match scene is gone. NetworkedMatch returns both
diff --git a/Game/tests/cases/test_server_config.gd b/Game/tests/cases/test_server_config.gd
index bc2862c9..2421ed61 100644
--- a/Game/tests/cases/test_server_config.gd
+++ b/Game/tests/cases/test_server_config.gd
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ func test_allocated_mode_is_opt_in_and_requires_compatibility_manifest() -> void
 	var valid = _parse([
 		"--allocated-mode", "--match-id=match_1234567890123456", "--server-id=server_1234567890123456",
 		"--playlist-version=2026-08-31", "--client-build=client-2026-08-31", "--assignment-expiry-unix=%d" % (Time.get_unix_time_from_system() + 3600), "--server-image-digest=sha256:" + "a".repeat(64),
-		"--transport=enet", "--region=EU", "--join-authorisations-file=/run/secrets/join-authorisations.json", "--join-authorisations-key-file=/run/secrets/join-authorisations.key"
+		"--playlist=casual", "--transport=enet", "--region=EU", "--join-authorisations-file=/run/secrets/join-authorisations.json", "--join-authorisations-key-file=/run/secrets/join-authorisations.key"
 	])
 	assert_true(valid.is_valid(), "a complete allocated compatibility manifest is accepted: %s" % str(valid.errors))
 
diff --git a/Game/tests/cases/test_server_match_loop.gd b/Game/tests/cases/test_server_match_loop.gd
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fcb7ac31
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Game/tests/cases/test_server_match_loop.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+extends "res://tests/test_case.gd"
+
+func test_allocated_initial_connect_policy_has_explicit_boundaries() -> void:
+	var loop = preload("res://scripts/server_match_loop.gd")
+	assert_eq(loop.allocated_initial_connect_action("ranked", 29999, 5, 6, true, true), loop.ALLOCATED_WAIT, "ranked waits before 30 seconds")
+	assert_eq(loop.allocated_initial_connect_action("ranked", 30000, 5, 6, true, true), loop.ALLOCATED_CANCEL, "ranked cancels at 30 seconds")
+	assert_eq(loop.allocated_initial_connect_action("casual", 59999, 2, 6, true, true), loop.ALLOCATED_WAIT, "casual waits before 60 seconds")
+	assert_eq(loop.allocated_initial_connect_action("casual", 60000, 2, 6, true, true), loop.ALLOCATED_START_WITH_BOTS, "casual starts with bots when both teams are represented")
+	assert_eq(loop.allocated_initial_connect_action("casual", 60000, 2, 6, true, false), loop.ALLOCATED_CANCEL, "casual cancels when one team is empty")
+	assert_eq(loop.allocated_initial_connect_action("casual", 1000, 6, 6, true, true), loop.ALLOCATED_READY, "complete roster is ready immediately")
+	assert_eq(loop.allocated_initial_connect_action("other", 0, 1, 6, true, true), loop.ALLOCATED_CANCEL, "unknown allocated playlist fails closed")
diff --git a/deploy/k8s/base/fleet.yaml b/deploy/k8s/base/fleet.yaml
index 763647b3..a44c8309 100644
--- a/deploy/k8s/base/fleet.yaml
+++ b/deploy/k8s/base/fleet.yaml
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ spec:
                 - --match-id=allocation-placeholder
                 - --server-id=allocation-placeholder
                 - --playlist-version=casual
+                - --playlist=casual
                 - --client-build=build-1
                 - --assignment-expiry-unix=1
                 - --server-image-digest=sha256:0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
diff --git a/multiplayer-next.md b/multiplayer-next.md
index c428db2b..86f59348 100644
--- a/multiplayer-next.md
+++ b/multiplayer-next.md
@@ -1420,3 +1420,5 @@ The maintenance command now invokes a bounded `ReconcileInitialConnect` sweep fo
 Allocation registration now writes a participant-targeted, revisioned `state_changed` outbox event for both `PROCESS_READY` and `ASSIGNMENT_READY` transitions. The production and test API binaries run a type-scoped dispatcher with delivery-before-ack semantics, so allocation lifecycle events survive WebSocket outages without competing with proposal or result consumers. Store/API adversarial tests cover event-type isolation, target validation, and revision mismatches; live allocator/Agones delivery remains an integration gate.
 
 The state-event implementation is now complete through the registration boundary: the durable registration SQL returns the authoritative match revision, includes every participant target in the payload, and the dispatcher validates aggregate/revision/state consistency before fan-out. Full Go tests, race checks, and vet pass after an adversarial database-cursor review.
+
+Allocated Godot runtime now applies the same initial-connect policy: ranked allocations cancel and exit after 30 seconds if the signed roster is incomplete; casual allocations wait 60 seconds, cancel when fewer than two humans or one team is absent, and otherwise start with a deterministic six-slot assignment-derived lineup containing explicit bots. The bot branch is opt-in and consumed once, so direct servers and ranked matches cannot inherit it. Godot parse plus the 155-test harness and manifest checks pass; durable no-show penalties/state reconciliation remain owned by the control-plane sweep.