The game design in Mafia Wars is parallel to all others like iMafia, iMob Online, and Mafia LIVE. You set your position at the beginning, which desides what your angle will be, like if you are going to be more proficient at fighting or making money.
Once you enter the game you start by performing jobs to gain money and experience points. You use this money to purchase weapons to help you in fights against other players and perform more advanced jobs. You then use most of your money to invest in properties that then gives you money on a constant cycle.
You can visit the doctor to pay to heal yourself after losing fights, and even visit the godfather to spend your “reward” points on different additions or help. Yes, reward points are much different that respect points, ask any iMob Online player.