In order to become king of Denmark, Claudius murders his brother. One might wonder, as you have, why he wouldn't also kill the deceased king's son, Hamlet, as well. Hamlet could obviously be a potential threat to Claudius' reign - wouldn't it be better to be rid of him? Claudius's reason for sparing Hamlet (aside from the fact that a king and his son dying around the same time would probably raise a few eyebrows) are both personal and political -- and Claudius explains all this in Act IV, scene 7.
The scene begins with a conversation between Laertes and Claudius. Laertes demands of Claudius why Hamlet wasn't more severely punished for murdering Laertes' father, Polonius. In explaining his reasons for not punishing Hamlet for that crime, Claudius also offers us insight into why he left Hamlet alone when first usurping the throne.
Claudius has "two special reasons" (line 9). The political reason Claudius can't harm Hamlet is because of the "great love the general gender bear him" (line 18). In other words, the people of Denmark adore Hamlet, going so far as to "Convert his gyves [defects] into graces" (line 21). Claudius knows that going after Hamlet would be political suicide.
The personal reason has to do with what Claudius won in addition to the throne, namely Hamlet's mother: Gertrude. He loves Gertrude, and she loves Hamlet, to the point that she "lives almost by his looks" (line 12). Claudius confesses that he loves Gertrude so much that he doesn't have the strength to hurt her by harming Hamlet.
For these two reasons, Claudius is unable to harm Hamlet. And so, Hamlet is able to eventually avenge his father's foul murder.
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