For now if I was in your position I wouldn’t mess with the template and use the header thats there as it does look much better and inline than the one you have used.
On the side navigation make the links for all the casinos/poker room you want to promote, maybe don’t go over the top! You home page should be information with only a few featured casinos that are not too “in your face”
links such as $500 Free as Cherry Red that when clicked gets you to the review page, the review page is where you sell the experience of playing at that particular casino and a call to action at the end of the review in text link form will do better than banners.