House
The house is the casino or card room that runs the poker game and makes its money from the game. At a casino table, players do not play against the house but against each other, and the house takes a fee called the rake.
The simple explanation
If you play poker at a casino, the casino is 'the house'. It provides the table, the dealer and the security. In return it takes a small share of each pot or charges a fee per half hour. It does not take part in the hand as a player.
A closer look
Unlike casino games such as blackjack or roulette, in poker the house does not have an advantage over the players. Its income is the rake, so it wants many hands and many players. That is why a high rake can make it very hard to win in low-stakes games. When a rule says 'house rules', it means the rules of the particular room, which can differ on matters such as string bets or exposed cards.
A practical example
At the Bellagio, the Bellagio is the house. It rakes each pot and earns money whichever player wins.
Full explanation
The house is the casino or card room that runs the poker game and makes its money from the game. At a casino table, players do not play against the house but against each other, and the house takes a fee called the rake.
The house is the venue that hosts the game and makes money from it.
In poker, the house usually earns money through the rake or a time charge.
The house does not play against the players.
‘House rules’ are the rules of that venue.