1. A system comprising: at least one processor and at least one memory operable to present a component of a wagering game upon which monetary value may be wagered; and at least one graphics processing unit coupled to the at least one processor, the graphical processor operable to: receive a graphical object fir the component, the graphical Object having a defined shape; receive a position of a light source; define a bounding geometry from a single three-dimensional spherical geometrical shape, the three-dimensional spherical geometrical shape being sized and positioned to surround the defined shape of the graphical object, and the three-dimensional spherical geometrical shape being independent of and distinct from an edge outline of the graphical object; perform subsurface scattering approximation for respective pixels of the graphical object using a proximity of the respective pixels to a surface of the spherical geometrical shape surrounding the object by performing, for each of the respective pixels in the graphical object, actions that: compute a distance within the spherical geometrical shape, by a measurement of the distance starting from the pixel and extending to the surface of the spherical geometrical shape along a vector including the pixel and the light source, and determine a subsurface scattering display property of the pixel in accordance with the distance; and display the respective pixels in accordance with the subsurface scattering display property of each pixel.