Is mafia and gangster the same thing?

While both "mafia" and "gangster" refer to organized crime, they are not the same. The term "mafia" typically refers to specific criminal organizations, particularly those originating from Italy, such as the Sicilian Mafia. In contrast, "gangster" is a broader term that describes individuals involved in organized crime, regardless of affiliation with any particular group. Therefore, all mafia members can be considered gangsters, but not all gangsters are part of the mafia.