Yes, but people compete with high scores

Actually, you can do multi-player games. On real machines you pay for credits, and then you have to use one credit per player. But, the first player plays their first ball, and after the first player drains (loses) their ball, the second player plays their first ball until they drain it, then the third player, etc. Once everyone has played their first balls, then Player One returns with their second ball, and play continues like that through all three balls.

The amount of trash talking during play varies depending on who you're playing, but as with most things, trash talking your buddies while they're playing is one of the more enjoyable aspects of the game.