Nick Xenophon welcomes pokies controls pledged by Labor and Andrew Wilkie

Speaking in Canberra, Mr Xenophon said he had given Mr Wilkie the "thumbs up" for the deal he struck with Prime Minister Gillard.

"This is really an exciting day," he said.

"There is now light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to poker machine addiction in this country," he said.

Mr Xenophon said the reform, which requires users to be identified before using poker machines, would do more to control problem gambling than $1 maximum bets.

The Federal Government has committed to introducing legislation to force state governments to introduce the measures.

"No longer will there be an excuse for the government not to act," he said.

"Having a mandatory pre-commitment ...by 2014 will make a real difference in the realm of problem gambling in this country."

"Pokie machines will never be able to cause the damage they have caused in the past."

"That's why this reform, this series of steps will make a very real difference."