diff --git a/app/__init__.py b/app/__init__.py
index f95c67b..b1e3889 100644
--- a/app/__init__.py
+++ b/app/__init__.py
@@ -10,16 +10,60 @@ load_dotenv()
 # Initialize SQLAlchemy
 db = SQLAlchemy()
 
+# Get or generate a stable SECRET_KEY
+def get_secret_key():
+    # Check for an existing key file
+    key_file = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)), '../instance/secret_key')
+    
+    # If running in production with Docker, store in a more appropriate location
+    if os.environ.get('FLASK_ENV') == 'production':
+        key_file = '/data/secret_key'
+    
+    try:
+        # Try to read existing key
+        if os.path.exists(key_file):
+            with open(key_file, 'rb') as f:
+                key = f.read()
+                if key:
+                    return key
+    except:
+        pass
+    
+    # Generate a new key
+    key = secrets.token_hex(32).encode()
+    
+    # Try to save it for future use
+    try:
+        os.makedirs(os.path.dirname(key_file), exist_ok=True)
+        with open(key_file, 'wb') as f:
+            f.write(key)
+    except:
+        # If we can't save it, just use it for this session
+        pass
+        
+    return key
+
 def create_app():
     app = Flask(__name__, instance_relative_config=True)
     
+    # Determine if we're in production
+    is_production = os.environ.get('FLASK_ENV') == 'production'
+    
     # Configure the app
     app.config.from_mapping(
-        SECRET_KEY=os.environ.get('SECRET_KEY', secrets.token_hex(16)),
+        SECRET_KEY=os.environ.get('SECRET_KEY', get_secret_key()),
         SQLALCHEMY_DATABASE_URI=f"sqlite:///{os.path.join(app.instance_path, 'game_tracker.sqlite')}",
         SQLALCHEMY_TRACK_MODIFICATIONS=False,
+        # Session configuration for secure cookies
+        SESSION_COOKIE_SECURE=is_production,  # Only send cookies over HTTPS in production
+        SESSION_COOKIE_HTTPONLY=True,        # Prevent JavaScript access to cookies
+        SESSION_COOKIE_SAMESITE='Lax',       # Prevent CSRF attacks
+        PERMANENT_SESSION_LIFETIME=86400,    # 24 hours
     )
     
+    # If behind a proxy (like Nginx), trust the proxy headers
+    app.config['PREFERRED_URL_SCHEME'] = 'https' if is_production else 'http'
+    
     # Ensure the instance folder exists
     try:
         os.makedirs(app.instance_path)
@@ -33,6 +77,14 @@ def create_app():
     from .routes import main_bp
     app.register_blueprint(main_bp)
     
+    # Set up session persistence for production
+    if is_production:
+        from flask_session import Session
+        app.config['SESSION_TYPE'] = 'filesystem'
+        app.config['SESSION_FILE_DIR'] = '/data/flask_session'
+        app.config['SESSION_PERMANENT'] = True
+        Session(app)
+    
     # Create database tables
     with app.app_context():
         db.create_all()
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 9c33d92..24fb2f0 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -7,8 +7,12 @@ services:
       - "8000"
     volumes:
       - ./instance:/app/instance
+      - ./data/flask_session:/data/flask_session
+      - ./data/secrets:/data
     env_file:
       - .env
+    environment:
+      - FLASK_ENV=production
     restart: unless-stopped
     networks:
       - app-network
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index a63169b..3bcb6d8 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 Flask==2.3.3
 Flask-SQLAlchemy==3.1.1
 Flask-WTF==1.2.1
+Flask-Session==0.5.0
 requests==2.31.0
 python-dotenv==1.0.0
+gunicorn==21.2.0