Atomic structure data and effective collision strengths from literature for 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p63d10 and 34 fine-structure levels contained in the configurations 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p63d9 4l (l = s, p, d) for the nickel-like Au ion are used in the determination of the reduced population for these levels over a wide range of electron densities and at various electron plasma temperatures. The gain coefficient for those transitions with positive population inversion factor are determined and plotted against the electron density.