The operator of a proposed Hill District casino is disputing a Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board report that shows it would generate the least revenue of the three competitors for the Pittsburgh slot machine license.

To the contrary, Isle of Capri Casinos Inc. claims in a revised report that its casino would produce more revenue than the others by its fifth year of operation, the board's benchmark.

In other developments yesterday:

Isle of Capri officials said that new Penguins owner Jim Balsillie will make another appearance before the gaming control board next month to answer questions about an alternative funding plan for a new arena and what effect that would have on the team's future in Pittsburgh.

Some board members were upset last week when Mr. Balsillie, after testifying on behalf of the Isle of Capri plan, left licensing hearings on the Pittsburgh casino before they had a chance to quiz him on Gov. Ed Rendell's alternative Plan B for funding an arena.

National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman made another pitch for the Isle of Capri plan, which provides $290 million for a new arena, and would not commit to Plan B in a meeting with Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato and Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl.

In its financial report, a gaming control board task force concluded that the Isle of Capri plan would produce $344.9 million in revenue annually by the fifth year, based on 3,000 slot machines in operation.

That was lower than PITG Gaming LLC's $483.6 million a year with 5,000 slot machines and Forest City Enterprises $426.3 million a year with 4,000 machines.

Les McMackin, an Isle of Capri spokesman, said yesterday the $344.9 million estimate was based on an "original phase one" proposal that has since been revised.

The latest Isle of Capri proposal shows the casino reaching 5,000 slot machines by the fifth year of operation and generating $487.4 million in revenue, the same amount the operator discussed at licensing hearings last week.

What's uncertain is what the gaming board's task force and its consultant, PricewaterhouseCoopers, will do with the estimate.

In the report Isle of Capri is disputing, for example, they adjusted the Isle's original $362.4 million estimate down to $344.9 million.

They also adjusted Forest City Enterprise's $538.7 million a year estimate down to $426.3 million.

On the other hand, they upgraded PITG Gaming LLC's $452.6 million projection to $483.6 million.

PITG Gaming spokesman Bob Oltmanns said he was confident the operator's Majestic Star casino would continue to lead the pack, based on its North Shore location and the fact it would be built to handle 5,000 slot machines with no expansion involved.

"I think it's more difficult for them. All we have to do is ship in" more slot machines, Mr. Oltmanns said.

But Mr. McMackin questioned PITG Gaming's aggressive construction schedule, saying it would increase costs 40 percent to 60 percent. Mr. Barden said the faster opening would allow the casino to recoup the higher costs quickly.

At $426.3 million a year, the gaming control board task force estimates show far lower revenues for the proposed Harrah's casino at Station Square than Forest City has offered -- one was as high as $617.7 million a year.

Forest City declined comment yesterday. Meanwhile, Mr. Bettman, speaking at a news conference before the Penguins' game against the New York Islanders at Mellon Arena, called his meeting with Mr. Ravenstahl and Mr. Onorato "a candid discussion about the development of the project and the surrounding areas."

Primarily, though, Mr. Bettman used his visit to plug the Isle of Capri proposal again as the best option for keeping the team in Pittsburgh.

He declined to discuss Plan B with the local officials or with reporters.

"We didn't discuss the specifics of Plan B because the plan that we're most interested in, the plan that we want to see achieved and the plan that is on the table is the Isle of Capri," Mr. Bettman said.

Mr. Ravenstahl said he was encouraged by Mr. Bettman's statements that he wanted to keep the team in Pittsburgh and saw it as a "viable market with a bright future."