pay off

v. pay a debt in full; yield a profit; pay a person who has influence as to obtain a favor; reward; punish, get revenge

Verb
1. yield a profit or result; "His efforts finally paid off"
(hypernym) yield, pay, bear
2. eliminate by paying off (debts)
(synonym) liquidate
(hypernym) pay up, ante up, pay
(hyponym) lift
3. pay off (loans or promissory notes)
(synonym) redeem
(hypernym) pay
4. do or give something to somebody in return; "Does she pay you for the work you are doing?"
(synonym) pay, make up, compensate
(hypernym) settle
5. pay someone with influence in order to receive a favor
(synonym) buy off
(hypernym) bribe, corrupt, buy, grease one's palms
(classification) crime, law-breaking
6. take vengeance on or get even; "We'll get them!"; "That'll fix him good!"; "This time I got him"
(synonym) pay back, get, fix
(hypernym) get even, get back
(verb-group) pay

pay in full and be free from a debt, yield good results (the risk paid off) She finally paid off her car so she has lots of extra money to spend.

To call a bet when you are most likely drawing dead because the pot odds justify the call.
  

Synonyms and related words:
advantage, afford, amortize, answer, approach, avail, be gainful, be handy, be of use, be profitable, be worthwhile, bear away, bear off, benefit, bestead, bribe, bring in, buy, buy off, clear, compensate, corrupt, discharge, do, do the trick, drift, drift off course, drive, fall down, fetch away, fill the bill, fix, get at, get satisfaction, get to, give good returns, grease, grease the palm, gross, head to leeward, honor, indemnify, lift, liquidate, make accounts square, make amends, make leeway, make requital, make restitution, make retribution, net, pay, pay back, pay in full, pay the bill, pay the shot, pay up, profit, purchase, quit, reach, recompense, redeem, redress, repay, requite, retire, return, reward, sag, satisfy, serve, serve the purpose, settle, square, square accounts, strike a balance, suborn, suffice, take care of, take up, tamper with, tickle the palm, yaw, yaw off, yield, yield a profit