If I define the word risk as "chances of losing" what would be a word for "chances of winning/gaining"? Mere antonyms of "risk" such as "safety" are not acceptable.
EDIT: This question drew more attention than I expected; therefore, I feel I should have given more background of the need for this word.
In an hypothetical situation, a supervisor offers two compensation packages to a subordinate of his: one consisting of more stock, and less cash, and the other consisting of the opposite. Stocks, by their nature, carry more risks not only because of its variability in value, but also that usually there is a wait period (maturity). But it has possible advantages as well, not only because it could go up in value, but also in this hypothetical organization, employees investing more in its stock are considered to be taking ownership of it more and deemed to possibly stay longer, and thus, are more likely to be promoted. Therefore, this supervisor as he/she offering the packages, would like to say: Here they are, please weigh your risks and X's (one word that he is after)?
The first impression "risk" gives, in my opinion, is the possibility of something bad happening; or at least that is what he means. Therefore, being an eloquent person he is, he would like to say the opposite in word. Any yea, by the way, he is an ESL person 🙂
Best Answer
Based on your premise, the word I believe you're looking for is "opportunity".
Opportunity: lucky chance; favorable circumstances. Dictionary.com: Opportunity
However, for most writing involving games of chance, it is usually referred to as risk vs reward. Where reward is the opposite of risk.