another big difference is the longevity, the mafia-type groups last a lot of time, even hundred years, a cartel by far less, look like medellin and cali cartels were entirely dismantled, and sinaloa and the mexican ones would be in the next years
one of the greatest successes of the mafias is handed down from generation to generation, that's why italian mafia in the united states is still alive and other groups jewish, irish etc. disappeared, at least those active long ago